Marker # 43 John Gaston Rags to Riches Story

Marker #43 is on north side of Court just east of Main Street:

A little history about Jean (John) Gaston: He was born in 1828 in France; Aveyron or Bordeaux are two places that have been cited as his exact birthplace. At the age of six (they didn't mess about in those days!) he started working in his grandfather's cafe in Paris. He ended up getting work on a steamliner making several trips back and forth from France to New York across the Atlantic. He stayed in New York for a time working as a chef at Delmonico's and eventually and for whatever reason, he decided to move to Memphis where he opened a restaurant and later a hotel and became quite the success story.

The John Gaston Hospital history from the Med's website :

1929
Mrs. Theresa Gaston Mann, who would be the hospital’s most significant benefactor to date, passed away, leaving more than $300,000 to the Memphis City Hospital in addition to the Gaston home and furnishings. Her contribution was made in memory of her former husband, John Gaston.

1936
With the Gaston inheritance, $300,000 from the city, $100,000 from the county, and a grant from the Public Works Administration, the Memphis City Hospital generated $800,000. These funds were used to build the new John Gaston Hospital which was dedicated in June of 1936.

1983
The hospital was officially renamed the Regional Medical Center at Memphis, or THE MED.

And in 1990 the old Gaston Hospital was demolished as the Med grew and expanded.

The Gaston mansion was on South Third and that property was converted around 1929 into Gaston Park which is still there today along with the Gaston Park Library and the Gaston Community Center.