Villages of Lower Falls and Upper Falls: walking tours by Historic Newton

Join Historic Newton volunteers for walking tours of two of the city’s historic villages, both of which sprang to life around the mill industry on the Charles River.

Lower Falls circa 1905, from the collection of Historic Newton. Click for more historic images.

The Lower Falls walk — at 2pm on Sunday, July 25– will be led by local resident Tori Zissman. The tour will examine four hundred years of neighborhood development and community activism in Lower Falls. Meet at Benjamin Mills Park, across from 15 Walnut Street in Wellesley. Parking is allowed in the lot of 15 Walnut for this event. Download a Lower Falls history brochure.

The Upper Falls walk — at 2pm on Sunday, August 22 — will be led by architect Jane Galli. The tour will look at worker housing in Newton Upper Falls in the context of Newton Lower Falls’ extensive redevelopment and of New England mill buildings’ redevelopment and adaptive-reuse. Meet at the northwest corner of Chestnut St. and Elliot St. Parking for this event is allowed in the office park there. Download an Upper Falls history brochure.

Both events are free.