While most settlers reaching America's eastern colonies hailed from England, William Penn offered land ownership and religious freedom to all nations. Fleeing religious persecution in Germany, Bishop Hans Herr arrived in Pennsylvania with his family in 1710. Here in Strasburg Borough, the Herr family felt free to follow their Mennonite faith and continue the Herr family lineage in Lancaster County.
   Grandson John Herr, received a patent to 1100 acres of land along Pequea Creek for 110 pounds sterling. By 1730, John had built a two story log cabin and began to construct a grist mill and sawmill along the stream.
   Through the years, a small village sprouted up along Pequea Creek. Supporting a general store, blacksmith shop and forge, a winery and distillery, a bridge was needed for local villagers to cross the creek. Herr’s Mill Bridge, spanning 180 feet, was built in 1844. Its long span used a double burr arch and was rebuilt in 1875. Bypassed by a concrete bridge, the bridge was always at risk from flooding. Needing some major work, the double-span bridge was sold for a dollar to David Abel. Abel, who recently restored the famous Star Barn complex, moved the bridge to Elizabethtown and re-assembed half of the Burr-ach bridge on the Stone Gables Estate.
   When the mill changed ownership in 1957, Donald Denlinger set his sights on a complete restoration. Missing its internal milling equipment, Denlinger looked to the Evergreen millworks, including its giant 3800 pound millstones. Denlinger continued his restoration work on the village buildings, including reconstruction of a log cabin. Tours are conducted of the Amish home while the mill is open for self-tours most every day.

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