Representative Norton Lewis Lichtenwalner

Norton Lewis Lichtenwalner (June 1, 1889 – May 3, 1960) was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. As a member of the Democratic Party representing Pennsylvania, he contributed to the legislative process during one term in office. His service in Congress occurred during a significant period in American history, as the nation confronted the economic and political challenges of the early 1930s, and he participated in the democratic process by representing the interests of his constituents in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Lichtenwalner was born on June 1, 1889, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, a growing industrial city in the Lehigh Valley. He attended the public schools of Allentown, reflecting a typical local education for a young man of his era. His early life in Allentown, a community shaped by manufacturing and commerce, would later inform his understanding of the economic concerns of working- and middle-class Pennsylvanians, which became central to his political identity as a Democrat.

After completing his schooling, Lichtenwalner entered the business world. He became involved in the retail furniture business in Allentown, gaining experience as a merchant and businessman. This commercial background provided him with practical knowledge of local economic conditions, labor issues, and small-business concerns. His work in business helped establish his reputation in the community and laid the groundwork for his later involvement in public affairs and politics.

Lichtenwalner’s political career developed within the Democratic Party at a time when Pennsylvania was largely dominated by Republicans. He became active in local Democratic circles in Allentown and the surrounding Lehigh County, aligning himself with the party’s efforts to expand its influence in the region. His engagement with party organization and local issues positioned him as a viable candidate for higher office when national political currents shifted during the onset of the Great Depression.

Lichtenwalner was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania, serving one term during a pivotal period in American history. In Congress, he took part in the legislative process at a time when the federal government was beginning to grapple with the economic crisis that followed the stock market crash of 1929. As a representative, he participated in debates and votes that reflected the concerns of his Pennsylvania constituents, including issues related to employment, industry, and social welfare, and he contributed to the broader Democratic effort to reshape national policy in response to economic hardship. His single term in office underscored both the volatility of the era and the challenges faced by Democrats seeking to consolidate gains in traditionally Republican areas.

After leaving Congress, Lichtenwalner returned to private life in Pennsylvania. Drawing on his earlier experience, he resumed his business and community activities in Allentown and remained identified with the Democratic Party and public service. His post-congressional years were spent in the same region where he had been born and had built his career, maintaining his ties to the local civic and political life that had first brought him to national office.

Norton Lewis Lichtenwalner died on May 3, 1960, in Allentown, Pennsylvania. His life and career reflected the trajectory of a locally rooted businessman who rose to national office during a time of profound economic and political change, serving one term in the U.S. House of Representatives and participating in the democratic process on behalf of his Pennsylvania constituents.