CityView Magazine

living Principals' Recess By miriam landru Two local former educators build their dream lake haven filled with family and fun S ix years ago, Dr. Breeden Blackwell and his wife Cathy were looking for a new second home. After 20 years of owning a coastal cottage in North Myrtle Beach, they both decided it was time for something different. "When we sold our house in Myrtle we didn't know where to buy, then a friend told us about Lake Tillery." Breeden admitted, "We never want to be more than two hours away from Fayetteville." Tillery's location seemed to be a deal breaker for the Blackwell family. Though beauty abounds in the Uhwarrie Mountains where Lake Tillery is located, finding the perfect place to dwell was a hard decision. When it came down to choosing their dream lake home, the Blackwell's managed to find the right real estate agent to show them around. "This realtor offered something no one else did, a view of the shore," said Breeden. So, the duo boarded her boat and said "bon voyage" to the riverbanks. From the water, they got a different perspective. "There are really so many beautiful homes and views here." Cathy shared, "We looked at houses that were being ren- ovated, fixer-uppers and brand new homes. Nothing really spoke to us." The Blackwell's didn't point to a home and say, "That's the one." After searching for three months, they decided to buy a lot in a cove and build. And they weren't about to construct just any home, but a 4,000 square foot authentic log cabin that took 18 months to complete. When finished, Cathy christened their new abode "Principals' Recess." Both Blackwells' dedicated years of teaching and service to our schools and are retired elementary school principals. The Blackwell's were initially unfamiliar with the logistics of having a lake home compared to beach living. There were matters to think about which were foreign to them such as water depth off the shore. "We got lucky. It's 14 feet right off here," Breeden said while laughing on the dock. The Blackwell's rustic retreat is situated on the banks of the "ski channel" of Lake Tillery, which boasts plenty of river fun. Even though the Blackwell's think of their lake home as a place to relax, Breeden said, "a lot of the young people boat here with their loud speakers on." Cathy joined in, "We don't complain about it though. We enjoy it. You know, back when we had our place in Myrtle, we were big shaggers." CityViewNC.com | 17

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