Pritchett Normal Institute began in 1901 as a preparatory institute founded by Albert, R. W., and J. P. Maberry, aided by Ben Wiliams and W. W. Sanders. It trained teachers and also offered public school courses, with pupils coming from as far away as the Panhandle of Texas. A building was added in 1908, and the plant was sold in 1915 to the public school system.