BRIDGTON — Well-known local historian David Sanderson of Waterford died Friday when a tree he was cutting down fell on him.

Sanderson, 80, was reportedly helping a friend when the accident occurred.

According to Bridgton police, the incident happened at 547 North Bridgton Road. Police were contacted about man injured by a fallen tree Friday at 4:51 p.m.

Sanderson researched and wrote local history for the Waterford Historical Society. He was known for portraying Artemus Ward, a Waterford native born Charles Farrar Browne, who has been called Abraham Lincoln’s favorite humorist.

Among Sanderson’s writings is a 24-page booklet on Mellie Dunham of Norway. A fiddler and snowshoe maker, Dunham provided the snowshoes for Commodore Robert Peary for his Arctic expedition.

Sanderson was also known for playing the fiddle. To honor Dunham, Sanderson organized the first fiddle jam in 2003 at the Norway Summer Festival

No one from the Waterford or Norway historical societies were available for comment.

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