March 2022 Greenberg Cadillac Museum By Paul Harvey
Greenberg Cadillac Museum is a unique new museum that
just opened last summer and is located in nearby Brookville,
Pennsylvania. I had the
privilege of a private tour last April, and let me tell you that it is
truly amazing. The collection includes nearly 80 vintage Cadillacs from
1903 to present, each with its special message and meaning.
But I’m getting ahead of myself, so let’s go back to see how the
museum started. Steve Greenberg grew up in Detroit.
Wow, the automotive capital of the world!
As a kid, he built models and collected dealer pamphlets.
Hmmm, I did that also.
Great fun, but the beginnings of life long passions.
Steve with cars and me with gas engines. His uncle took him to a car show in 1958 at the Michigan
State Fair where he fell in love with a silver Cadillac Eldorado
convertible. My parents took
me to Rough and Tumble in Kinzers, Pennsylvania, and I fell I love with
gas engines. Our life long
passions had started! It is
amazing what has developed for both of us.
So, the story continues. Steve married Deena and they bought a used Cadillac
Coupe De Ville, and I married Marilyn and we bought a Model 4 Klein for
our new building. Unknown to
us, our lives seemed to parallel.
It makes a great story. Dr. Steve
Greenberg, now an ophthalmologist, moved to Brookville to set up his
practice. And I was there as
a practicing Emergency Medicine physician.
We met and became good friends, neither knowing each other’s
growing hobbies. We didn’t
know until after our retirements!
But we each continued to develop our hobbies as the years passed. Steve retired and purchased a defunct auto dealership in
Brookville to house his collection and to create a restoration shop.
He became very proficient in all phases of restoration, and his
collection grew. I retired
to work on my collection and to help Coolspring Power Museum grow.
Last year, it was decided that perhaps our two museums could work
together to provide a unique experience for visitors to our area.
This cooperation is continuing for 2022. The Cadillac Museum made their open dates the same as CPM’s for 2022, so visitors might spend a weekend in Brookville and leisurely visit both. Each one takes at least a day to see and enjoy. With all the other amenities the area has to offer, it would be very pleasant indeed.
So, let’s visit the Greenberg Cadillac Museum and see what it has to offer. You will be amazed! There are three climate-controlled buildings plus a shop
building in the complex.
This is one of the first cars that greeted me.
Note the tile floor.
This is gonna be good!
Looks good but let’s take a further tour and see some
more cars. All are
meticulously restored and beautifully displayed.
Many are unique and have served a special purpose.
Again, a parallel of the two museums.
CPM proudly displays many unique engines that have served a
special purpose. This common
theme is what makes both museums so interesting.
I took these photos last year.
Great to see hoods up for an engine guy to see the power plant.
That was when I realized they were all frame-up restorations.
What meticulous work, and done so well.
So, let’s stroll around and see what else there is to offer.
The Cadillac Museum established a walking tour map for
their visitors and has docents to help explain the displays.
Again, CPM is similar that it has tour guides to help visitors
appreciate the many displays.
Cadillac made some very great vehicles and also did some very interesting advertising. I just had to add this advertisement from 1962. A huge but very beautiful vehicle! Enjoy! But let’s not forget the gas engine ads during their heyday. Very artistic and almost unbelievable in the claims. Hmmm! So very similar. I must include this excited Facebook posting from Deena
as they were vacationing in Florida.
New additions are always exciting both for the Greenbergs and for
me at CPM. That’s what it is
all about. The old is great
and the new is exciting! It
keeps us both going and improving.
I certainly hope you have enjoyed this little peek into
the Greenberg Cadillac Museum, and how I have paralleled the two lives
and two collections. Visit
both museums this summer and be amazed!
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