William A. Emerson (short biography from Town Talk)

Fig. 1: William A. Emerson, picture from Town Talk (11/08/1890)

William A. Emerson was a skilled engraver, responsible for Fitchburg Past and Present as well as Fireside Legends, both books about early Fitchburg history.

Town Talk featured a short biography about this skilled artisan, the beginning of the biography is as follows:

"William A. Emerson is a native of Douglas, Mass., and was born July 31, 1851. He learnt the engravers' art in Providence, R.I., and afterwards went into business for himself there. On account of poor health he went back to his native place and carried on a small business at East Douglas. For two or three years he did such work as came his way and then opened an office and carried on a good business. He came to Fitchburg about six years ago, after living some time in Leominster and Worcester. Mr. Emerson has done some good work in publishing histories of different places, and is now at work on a history of Athol. His first publication was a little work on engraving, which was afterwards enlarged and re-published by Lee, Shepard & Co. of Boston. His Fitchburg Past and Present and Fireside Legends are well known here. His Leominster Historical and Picturesque is a very fine book..."