In an effort to preserve some of the history of our community, The Times is displaying photos of Henry County from the past. If you can tell us anything about the photo shown above, use this form. In the next edition, we’ll reveal the details of the picture and notes readers send us.

Thanks to Mike Moon for submitting this photo of the McDonough Nite Owl from 1976. Louann Branan wrote, “this is the old Nite Owl that used to be the hangout after school when I attended Henry County High. My father, Henry Branan, helped build the Henry County High School. The Nite Owl had a lot of good memories for me. It’s where I meet my first husband.”

Marla Rowan-Finnegan wrote, “I do remember the Nite Owl; it was one of about seven stores to get candy and general merchandise in the entire City of McDonough. The Nite Owl was located on the inside corner of Keys Ferry Road and Hwy. 81; we stopped there on our way to Ola to play ball. Nite Owl was located diagonally to the only grocery store we ever went to. We did, however, walk from the two story White House on Airline Road (that burned down some time back), up to Rowan’s General store. Back then, McDonough didn’t have house numbers for our address; we used Route 4 Airline Road, and we shared a party line on the phone.” Shelby Phillips wrote, “this is the legendary Nite Owl convenience store that is currently still standing.”

Eddie Robinson wrote, “this is the Nite Owl at Keys Ferry and Zack Hinton Pkwy. In the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s it was a meeting place and turning point while cruising through McDonough. It had a small car wash beside it where everybody would wash their cars before cruising. We would cruise for hours from the Square to the Nite Owl then back to the Square. Then we would all meet at the Square and sit around until after midnight or until the police would run us off.” Sheldon Sagoes wrote, “My grandfather, Mr. John W. Cleveland, was the proprietor of the car wash that was next to the Nite Owl for over 40 years. He was close friends with Mr. T. P. Stewart and Mr. Zack Hinton. The car wash was a main hang out for teenagers back in mom’s high school days and it was actually my first job, thanks to my grandfather.”

Thanks also to Cedric Barber, Charles Dodson and Sherry Carmichael for correctly identifying the photograph.