The original 92 acre property was owned by members of the Herr family since 1844. Although the date stone on the house reads 1852, there is evidence that the north side of the house was erected earlier.

The first family member to reside there was Henry Herr, who was a descendent of Hans Herr, one of Lancaster's earliest settlers.

Henry Herr and his wife Elizabeth raised 6 children at the homestead and eventually their son, Amos B. Herr took over farming the property and raising tobacco. Amos and his wife, Emma made major renovations to the house in 1913. They had one child, Amos Rohrer Herr who began managing the property in 1926 upon the death of his father. When Amos R. Herr's beloved wife Ethel passed away in 1964, he gave a portion of the then 55 acre tract to East Hempfield Township. Amos R. Herr lived at the farm until his death in 1987 when the remaining acreage was formally turned over to East Hempfield Township with the stipulation that the land be used for public good.

The Ethel S. Herr Gardens were established in 1993 to honor the late Ethel Stauffer, wife of Amos Herr. The gardens grew from Ethel's desire to have a rose garden to view out her dining room window. An antique rose garden with roses dating to biblical times surrounds an authentic raised bed herb garden.