Little Egypt was a Freedmen's town located in East Dallas not far from White Rock Lake. Freed slaves Jeff and Hanna Hill founded the 35 acre town in 1865. By 1960 the estimated population was 23 families consisting of about 200 people. Despite the development of the surrounding neighborhoods, Little Egypt still had dirt streets, with most homes not having indoor plumbing, gas and even some without electricity. In November 1961 the Shopping Center Syndicate offered to buy Little Egypt. Fearing the city of Dallas would condemn the properties, the community patriarch William Hill and Little Egypt Baptists Church Trustee Sarah Robinson encouraged the residents to take the buyout.

The shopping Center Syndicate paid each land owner a minimum of $6500 plus moving expenses. On May 15, 1962 moving trucks showed up and everyone was moved to their new homes. Demolition began the next day...