In 1852, Henry Herr and his wife, Elizabeth Brenneman Herr, built the front section of what is now affectionately called the Amos Herr House, located at 1756 Nissley Road, in Landisville. The house was named after Amos Herr as he was the last living descendant of Henry and Elizabeth Herr. Amos Herr taught history and related subjects at Hempfield High School for his entire teaching career. In addition to his teaching accomplishments, he was well known for sharing his love of learning, through travel, by showing his extensive slide collection to community groups.

Having no children of their own, Amos and his wife Ethel upon her death, donated a portion of their 55 acre farm to East Hempfield Township with the stipulation that upon his death the house and remaining land would become the property of the Township. Herr lived to enjoy the beginning of A. Herr Park, the annual Community Fair at the park, and to see the construction of the Township Municipal Building. This building was designed to resemble and blend with the barn of the Herr farm which adjoins. The barn, with its stone gable ends, remains a classic example of mid-nineteenth century Lancaster County barn architecture.

From the time of Herr's death in 1987 until October, 1990, the house sat empty and waiting. Its rooms held a fairly large collection of antique furniture from the Herr estate which the Township had purchased at the estate auction.

In October, 1990, the East Hempfield Township Supervisors formed a five member volunteer committee to determine whether the house was worth preserving and if so for what purpose and to what value for the community. The committee reported that, while the house had been altered over the years and was in need of extensive structural and cosmetic repair, it was indeed a perfect example of a Lancaster County farm house that had grown and changed over the years as the fortunes and size of the Herr families had grown and changed. Accepting these recommendations, the Supervisors authorized that a non-profit foundation be formed to oversee the renovation, maintenance, and usage of the Herr House. The Foundation was formed in February, 1991 under the name of the Amos Herr House Foundation and renovations began with an initial grant from the Supervisors.

Through the generosity of Amos Herr, the East Hempfield Township Supervisors, the residents of the community, and local businesses, the Amos Herr House Foundation hopes to share this sense of place and era with future generations.

Tours are available on Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. April through October.

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For more information, call 898-8822, or e-mail : amosherr@verizon.net.