Carrie Green Mountain's Home: First Black Woman to Own Property in Trumbull County

Carrie Green Mountain was born in Maryland in 1857. During the first seven years of her life, she was enslaved; however, she obtained her freedom when the Emancipation Proclamation was issued in 1879. When she was in Maryland, she married Lewis Green, and the couple moved from Prince George County, Maryland to Warren, Ohio in 1879. When she arrived to Warren, she worked as a nursemaid for the family of Captain Day, who was a retired sea captain. She also worked for other prominent Warren families such as the W.D. Packard family and the Hughes family. Her husband found work at a flax mill. In 1892, Mountain and her husband purchased a house in downtown Warren on Pine Avenue SE for $1,250. Mountain became the first Black woman to purchase a house in Trumbull County. She also owned property properties on Mahoning Avenue and Highland Avenue.

The couple had two children: Harrison, who died in infancy, and Raymond. Lewis Green passed away during Raymond’s childhood. Raymond became a renowned pianist. Carrie Green Mountain enjoyed singing and playing the piano, and she encouraged Raymond to pursue his musical interests at a young age. Raymond received his first job as a musician at Flynn Musical Rooms in Youngstown, Ohio when he was 14 years old. In 1989, he joined the “Phillip’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin Show” as a drummer in the parades and a pianist during performances. At the height of his career, he joined the B.F. Keith Vaudeville Circuit in Cleveland, Ohio, which was the same theater troupe that hired Eddie Cantor and Harry Houdini. However, Raymond died shortly after accepting the position in the vaudeville theater troupe due to health issues caused by alcoholism. He lived to be 30 years old.

Following Raymond’s death, Carrie Green Mountain became more reclusive. In 1938, she married Hiram Mountain, who was Warren’s first Black police officer. In 1942, Cliff Bland, who was the owner of Automotive Inc., bought her house on Pine Avenue. His business was located next to her house, and he planned to use the property to expand his business in the future. However, he did not charge her rent fees. In 1946, Hiram passed away. Carrie Green Mountain continued to live in her house on Pine Avenue until her death in 1948 at 90 years of age.

During the last six years of her life, Carrie Green Mountain rarely left her house, and would not purchase necessities such as food, clothing, or coal. During one visit, Bland found her lying unconscious and without any resources to keep the house warm. Since she refused to leave the house for medical treatment, and Bland brought a doctor to treat her pneumonia. Bland, members of the police department, and other community members made sure that she had enough food, clothing, and coal to warm the house. Mountain was also distrustful of banks, and she refused to sleep in a bed for fear of being robbed. Instead, she slept in an armchair chair on the first floor with three guns to guard her property.

After she passed away, Bland was appointed executor of her estate. He found $23,000 in cash hidden throughout the house in various walls and boxes. Her total estate was valued at $33,000.

On September 3, 1948, Bland held a public auction of the house, and over 200 people attended.

After the auction, Bland tore down Mountain’s home to turn the property into a parking lot. He had plans to build an office on the property.

While Carrie Green Mountain’s home on Pine Avenue is no longer standing, her legacy in Warren remains with the Salvation Army building on Franklin Street in downtown Warren. Approximately $30,000 of her savings were donated to the Salvation Army to fund the construction of their building. The building is still standing, and it is dedicated to Carrie Green Mountain and her son Raymond.

"200 Persons Attended Auction of Carrie Mountain's Goods." Tribune Chronicle. September 4, 1948.

"'Destitute' Woman Aided y Former Marion Man Leaves $33,000 Estate." The Marion Star. August 7, 1948.

Hood, Jean. "Mountain, Carrie Green (1857?-1948)." Trumbull County Encyclopedia. Trumbull County Historical Society. https://trumbullcountyhistory.com/mountain-carrie-green-1857-1948/

"Raymond Green." Sunday Tribune Magazine. May 24, 1981.

Tinsley, M. Ferguson. "A Full, Hard Life: Triumph and trials mark saga of local African-American." Tribune Chronicle. 1976.

"Woman, 90, Dies: Leaves $23,000 Hidden in Old Pine SE House." Tribune Chronicle. August 6, 1948.