The House of Ellicott's Hill is a historic house in Natchez, Mississippi, on a hill overlooking the Mississippi River. The house was built in 1798 by Andrew Ellicott, a surveyor who was involved in the planning of Washington D.C. and who played a crucial role in the surveying of the United States-Mexico border. The house is also significant because it was owned by William Johnson, a free black man who became a successful businessman in Natchez in the early 1800s. Johnson is known for his diary, which provides a unique glimpse into the lives of both free and enslaved black Americans in the antebellum South.

There is a memorial located near the House of Ellicott's Hill that tells the story of the Civil Rights Movement in Natchez and the role of Mayor John J. Nosser, who was of Lebanese origin. Nosser was mayor of Natchez from 1962 to 1968, during a time of significant racial tension and unrest. The memorial highlights how the African American community did not trust Nosser because of his perceived support for segregation but also acknowledges his willingness to negotiate with the NAACP and his efforts to hire black employees. The Ku Klux Klan bombed Nosser's home and stores in Natchez due to his hiring of blacks and willingness to negotiate with the NAACP.

The memorial also acknowledges the progress made during the Civil Rights Movement in Natchez, including settling a three-month boycott of downtown merchants in 1965. This agreement, known as "The Natchez Agreement," represented an upgrading of the status of the African American community and was unparalleled in settlement of any similar protest in a southern city. The memorial serves as a reminder of the challenges and progress made during the Civil Rights Movement in Natchez. It honours the contributions of those who fought for equality and justice.

John J. Nosser was a Lebanese immigrant who settled in Natchez, Mississippi, in the early 20th century. He opened his first grocery store, the Natchez Super Store, in 1940, and by the mid-1960s, he was operating three grocery stores and had developed a shopping complex called Nosser City.

Nosser became mayor of Natchez in 1962, during the height of the Civil Rights Movement. Although he was a successful businessman, he faced opposition from the African American community, who did not trust him. His willingness to hire black employees and negotiate with the NAACP made him a target for the Ku Klux Klan, who bombed his home and stores in 1964 and 1965.

Despite these setbacks, Nosser remained optimistic about Natchez and believed in its future. He worked to settle a three-month boycott of downtown merchants by African Americans in 1965, and he continued to be involved in civic life until he died in 1989.

Nosser City and Nosser's Natchez Super Store eventually succumbed to competition from newer shopping centres and suburban residential development. However, Nosser's legacy as a successful businessman and community leader, as well as his willingness to stand up for civil rights, continues to be remembered in Natchez.