In 1895, the Joseph Keasbey Brick Agricultural, Industrial and Normal School (aka the Brick School) was established in Edgecombe County, North Carolina by Julia Elma Brewster Brick (aka Mrs. Joseph K. Brick) of New York. Thomas Inborden was sent to North Carolina along with five teachers to launch the new school. During the school’s first year, it enrolled fifty-four (54) students, some boarders and others living at home in the local area. The school was co-educational and accepted students up to the fourth grade. The institution eventually boasted over one thousand acres, three large dormitories, educational buildings, and shops. Students supplemented the traditional school curriculum by training in various trades such as blacksmithing, woodwork, mechanical drawing, and cabinet-making. The dual educational approach benefited the school since a variety of farm products were produced to support its programs. In addition, the school had a strong business in mail-order honey sales. Interest in the school boomed and, at one time, enrolled as many as 460 students.

Mr. Inborden and others worked to make the school succeed and in 1926 it was made a junior college. However, due to financial difficulties and decreasing enrollment during the Great Depression, the Brick School was forced to close its doors. Although the school closed, it is credited with being a pioneer institution of education in eastern North Carolina and is recognized for educating many African Americans in the region.

Most of the above write-up (with edits) comes from the North Carolina Highway Marker program. Click Here to read and to view their sources.