We joined Natick Historical Society volunteer and local tour guide Vincent Vittoria for a walking tour of Natick’s Walnut Hill neighborhood earlier this fall when the foliage set off the beautiful homes of the historic area.

Vittoria, a Walnut Hill resident, gave a group of about 15 an engaging 90-minute walk and talk (and some gossipy tidbits) that covered the people, historic mansions, street names, and more that brought the history 19-century times to life. We heard of a former golf course, a carriage house on the move, the old baseball factory, and the Bacon School, which had a tube through which kids would slide out for fire drills (the school was located at what’s now the Loker Park playground).

By looking at the current state of Walnut Hill vs. old photos, we could see how free of construction the hill once was, and how many steeples used to be below.

Our tour started at the war memorial park near the railroad pedestrian bridge and coursed through Walnut, Winnemay (named after a couple of horses?), Highland, Florence, Shattuck, and others.

Here are some pics: