The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-11-12
(By CATHERINE ALBERTSON.)

10Y "a IIlxAItlN r. AlIk1f[lLl Sun.
A few miles above Elizabeth City,
overlooking the clear, anlber-cOl-
oTed waters OF the PasQuotank, stands
an interesting relic of by-gone days,
knoWn as THE Old Brick House" The
quaint old walls, the ends built Of
mingled brick and stone, the main
body of wood, rise from 4 low bluff
just within the bend of the river. \.
small slab Of granite circular IN shape
ard bearing the initials i. r." and
the 1909, lies sunken IN the ground II
the foot Of the steps.
The spacious entrance hall. panel
ed to the ceiling, opens into = large
room also panelled, in which is an
enormous fireplace, where richly
carved mantel reaches to the ceiling.
On one side Of this mantel. let into the
wall, is a closet communicating by o
secret opening with the basement
room below IT is said that from the
basement room, q hidden tunnel, now
built up, once led to the river.
Back OF the banquet hall" as the
panelled room is called, is a smaller
room in which a corresponding clos
ct is built into the wall, and contains
a sliding panel. This being pushed
aside reveals the solid brick wall Of a
secret closet extending the fun length
OF the house. To the left of the wide
entrance hall is Il large chamber
known as The Red Room from the
color Of the panelled walls. An at
tractive feature Of this room is the
great fireplace, and the quaint win
dows with their deep window seats.
A great winding stairway leads from
the hall to an upper room which oc-
cupieS the whole OF the half story. An
immense chimney with openings tor
three fre-places passes through one
end OF the room and up through the
roof. An old, old, spinning wheel in
one corner OF the room, a broken
loom and the remains Of the appara-
tus necessary for q rope walk speak
to the curious visitor Of the primitive
occupations OF the old owners Of the
house, and of the days before the
sound Of the factory whistle was
heard in the n
Local tradition claims that this
house was once the haunt of the fam
Gus pirate, Edward Leach, or Black
Beard, as he was Familiarity called.
Wild legends OF laWless reNel and Sc
cret crime have grown up about the
old building, until its time stained
walls seem stepped in the atmosphere
Of gloom and terror which the poet
Hood has SO graphically caught III his
"Haunted House.
But over all there hung i cloud q
fear.
A sense Of mystery the spirit
daunteG.
And aid as plain as whisper IN the
ear,
The house is haunted"
1t is said that the basement rooms
of the Brick House served as d dun
seon for prisoners aiken in Black
Boards pirate raids. and held for ran
:, som. There are darker stories, too
of deeds done by this dread free-boot-
CT. whose secret IS known only to the
hidden tunnel and the u~nreNeaIn;
waters below.
But tradition has been busy Will
other occupants Of the old house. i
is said to have been in Colonial day:
the home Of a branch Of ar ancien'
; and noble English family, To tn
care Of these gentlefoik their kins
: men Of old England entrusted
Young and lovely girl in order to sep
arate her from a lover whose fortune
/, failed to satisfy the ambitions OF he
=. proud and wealthy parents. TheeloN
: er followed his fair one across tn
! seas and entered in disguise anon,
the guests assembled at the great Ia!
I which was given at the Brick Ious'
in honor Of their recently arrived am
a lovely guest. The young lady s broth
e er, who had accompanied her to thi
4 country, penetrated the disguise o
her love-. Words Of high dlsaaEI