Carl V.S. Patterson Home

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Carl V.S. Patterson, who invented the fluorescent X-ray screen, provided a late burst of industrial development with his Patterson Screen Co. Patterson lived in the house at 9 Huston St., and his partner Frederic Reuter lived at 309 York Ave. Patterson Screen was the forerunner of the large DuPont and GTE factories, which account for much of the town's current employment. A large number of significant political figures are associated with the Towanda District. John LaPorte, son of an Azilum frenchman, was elected to the US Congress in 1833, and was also a substantial business figure (LaPorte and Mason Bank, 209-1 1 Main St). David Wilrnot, Senator and Congressman, moved to Towanda in 1834 and lived there until his death in 1868. Serving in the House from 1845-1851, he was the author of the Wilmot Proviso, which was intended to limit the expansion of slavery. A foe of James Buchanan and a famous orator, Wilmot was a founder of the Republican Party in Pennsylvania and a major figure in its national councils. He was Judge of the 13th District and was defeated by William Packer in a bid for governor in 1857. Elected to the Senate in 1861, he resigned in 1863 due to ill health; Wilmot served as Judge of the US Court of Claims until his death. He lived at 227 Poplar from 1850 until 1867, when he moved to 207 York Avenue.