Nestled within minutes of Greeneville Tennessee’s historical places such as the Andrew Johnson National Cemetery and Andrew Johnson Historical Site, you will find the City Garage Car Museum.
Owned and operated by Kent and Bettye Ann Bewley, City Garage Car Museum (501 c3 non-profit attraction) is a special place for gearheads and car enthusiasts. Since 2009, the museum has been a tribute to the Bewley family’s involvement in the automobile industry around the Greeneville area.
The building seems rather small from the parking lot but inside the collection looms larger than imagined. The collection of cars and memorabilia is ever changing as residents donate or loan the items for display. Among those who have loaned vehicles are Pete Hasterlik, Bob Southerland, Luther Cobble Family, Brab Gregg, Ron Jones, Tommy Love, Morgan Mclure racing and others.
Pete Hasterlik has his one of a kind 1915 Van Blerk Speedster. The Speedster is a six ton, 100 miles per hour, six-cylinder, 200 horsepower, dual chain driven behemoth of a still futuristic looking car even though it was made in 1915.
Hasterlik helps host the museum and The Zone asked him about how he came to be the owner of the Van Blerk and he replied, “Well it’s a neat story. I have a friend who was bidding on the car and Jay Leno was trying to buy it as well, but my friend was able to get the car. A few years later I traded several of my cars for it.”
Pete Hasterlik and his 1915 Van Blerk Speedster
The Speedster is one of over 40 cars currently on display and the collection includes a 1901 Oldsmobile, 1920-30’s Fords, 1950 Packard, 1964 1/2 Mustang, 1966 Corvette, 1967 Excalibur SS Convertible, 1972 Rolls Royce, 1972 deTomaso Pantera, 1996 Subaru SVX Sports Coupe and more.
For over 13 years now, the City Garage Car Museum has offered a place for car enthusiasts, car clubs, car rallies, those with special event needs and more to gather and enjoy the automobile in all its forms. Kent Bewley even hinted at another museum being created in the future.
Kent and Bettye Ann offered this quote about the museum and those supporting it, “We appreciate the support of the Greene County community including other venues and attractions, businesses and industries, Main Street Greeneville, Greene County Partnership, General Morgan Inn and especially the classic vehicle owners and car clubs.”
Bewley added, “Invite your friends to come over and visit.”
The museum is located at 210 South Main Street in Greeneville, Tennessee on Main Street / US 321. They are on Facebook and can also be contacted through [email protected] as well as by phone at 423-470-0841 and 638-6971. They are open on Friday and Saturday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm.
Article and photos by The Zone, Allen Earl
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