Robert Sylvester Munger saved a vacant Birmingham Arlington House from the auction block in 1902 when he purchased it along with 33 acres for $12,300. Munger grew up in Texas where he had learned the cotton gin business from his father. He also saw the many problems of lint and dust that caused damage to the workers’ lungs. So Munger invented a pneumatic suction system. He also devised many other patents to improve the ginning process. It was the improvements of this process that brought Munger to Birmingham, where he became a founding partner in the Continental Gin Company.
He and his wife, Mary Collet moved here with their eight children. Arlington had been a boarding house for a period of time and then vacant. Munger began to modernize the house by adding indoor plumbing and bathrooms, replacing gaslights with electric ones and installing a boiler system, which sent steam via pipes throughout the house to provide heat. He built a smaller house behind the big house to serve as a kitchen, dining room, sun parlor and living space for the family.
Other additions Munger made were the balcony across the front of the house, a tennis court and a carriage house. Pictures of Munger and his eight children show them riding bicycles on the tennis court!
Robert Munger became one of the earliest automobile owners in Birmingham when he purchased a 1902 Winton. He continued adding new cars to his collection each year. And in 1904 he traveled to Europe, where he drove his family over extremely rough roads in a French touring car through Belgium, France and Switzerland.
The Robert Mungers lived in Arlington House for 20 years. After that, the house went to their sixth child, Ruby Munger.
Both Robert and Mary Collet Munger made significant contributions to Methodist churches, including Highland Methodist. They also supported education. Birmingham Southern College was established as a result of Munger’s support to merge Southern University of Greensboro, Alabama, and Birmingham College For many years he served as chairman of the BSC trustee executive committee.
Real estate beckoned Munger. Munger Realty Company built many of the Spanish Renaissance structures surrounding the Five Points South circle and area.
The Munger family enjoyed golf and won many tournaments. Robley, also known as Rob, was one of the sons of Robert and Mary Collet Munger. Rob Munger won the first Birmingham Country Club Harris Cup and also the Birmingham City Championship. Another son, Eugene took flight in the Championship game.
Daughter Mary Munger was also an excellent golfer.
Christmas at Arlington this year welcomes Munger descendants from all across the United States, who are traveling to Birmingham for a Family Reunion and to participate in the Open House. Family members will serve as docents in each room to tell the Munger story. As a special treat this year members of the Munger family will sing acapella in the Munger Parlor.
In addition to the Mungers, entertainment will be provided by local entertainer Robbie Robinson, former Miss Alabama Tiara Pennington, talented singer and guitar player Lisa Finch, the Nichols Brothers, Karen Allen, pianist and the Grace Recorders of Grace Christian Church of Helena.
Other special treats this year will be the “penny farthing” courtesy of Cahaba Cycle. Come see and hear the history and challenges of this cycle, and the comeback that it is having these days.
For the first time there will be vendors selling products that represent life in the early 1900’s. Santa will be there!
And there will be crafts for the children that represent that time period.
Christmas at Arlington will truly be a wonderful event to experience Christmas in the early 1900’s with friends and family.
The date for Christmas at Arlington is Saturday, December 6, 2025. The hours are 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p. m.
