Camden People - George A. Munger

George A. Munger was born May 24, 1849. By 1887 he was already well established in the lumber business. With his brother Chauncey, he conducted the George A. Munger & Brother lumber yard at 111 North Delaware Avenue in Camden. He was the living at 225 North 3rd Street. In 1888 he moved to another home at 521 Linden Street.

In 1890 George A. Munger entered into a business arrangement with J.B. Van Sciver. The Van Sciver business became a huge success, with the large turreted factory and store dominating Camden's waterfront skyline for decades to come.

George A. Munger also was involved, along with William L. Hurley, Killam E. Bennett, and Volney G. Bennett, in the incorporation of the Central Trust Company. This bank built a large building at 401 Federal Street, which is still standing. The bank advertised as "the most acceptable small bank known", catering to "women's accounts", and kept Saturday evening hours for workers unable to bank during the week.

In July of 1902 George A. Munger began the demolition of the old Carman Mansion at Broadway and Federal Street. George Munger then erected a new four-story department store building, which was used by Munger and Elmer Ellsworth Long. Munger & Long opened their big department store on April 12, 1904. The building was acquired by Stecker & Company in 1926, and by the J.C. Penney Company in the 1930s. It stood at Broadway and Federal Street until the 1960s.

George A. Munger passed away on March 24, 1909. He was buried at Harleigh cemetery in Camden NJ. The Munger family carried on the retail business until 1926, when the Stecker Company purchased the department store. It would in turn become a branch of the J.C. Penney department store chain by 1934, and remain a Camden landmark for many years.

A descendant of George A Munger, named George Almon Munger, was named the football coach of the University of Pennsylvania in January of 1938. He would coach at Penn for 16 years, and compiled a 52-7-4 Ivy League record during this period.

Postcards where Munger & Long Store is Depicted

Munger & Long Department Store Broadway & Federal Street As seen from the Catholic Lyceum	Munger & Long Department Store Broadway & Federal Street Postcard dates from about 1915

"Federal Street, West From Broadway"	"Federal and Arch Streets, from Broadway & Federal Street, Camden NJ"

"Federal Street, Looking East From Court House"	Broadway, Looking South, after 1926