This is the second building to be constructed on the Stilwell world save. The structure is located just east of Stilwell Junior High, connected by Vine Street. I Chose to build this because of its unique historical background. This building was constructed in 1951 and was an elementary school called "Clover Hills Elementary School." In 1970 the school was renamed "Rex Mathes Elementary School" in honor of a school principal. Then in 2001, exactly 50 years after it opened, Rex Mathes closed due to the construction at 713 8th street of "Hillside Elementary School," this is the school I went to. Then 4 years after its closing, the whole north wing and connecting hallway of the school was demolished. These rooms included the library, art, and music rooms. Sometime around the demolition the building was renamed and re-opened once again to its current name, "West Des Moines Teen Center." The "Teen Center" provided after school activities for the Stilwell and Indian Hills Junior High Schools, and Southwoods Freshman High School. Around this time the local "Tallgrass Theatre Company" upgraded and renovated the auditorium to use as a space for plays and theatricals. Then in April 2016 abrupt information about the "Teen Center's" closing was disclosed to the public. This unfavorable decision was made in order to allow the growing homeschooling activities to expand into the parts of the building occupied by the Teen Center. Before it's final closing to the public, I photographed the remainder of the school and discovered an eerie cold war relic in the basement. This school holds the memories and feelings of many, some being happy and others harder to describe. This building was loved by many, and has finally come to it's public end, 65 years after it first opened its doors to the children of West Des Moines. R.I.P. Teen Center.

I wish a special thanks to the staff who keep the Teen Center the way it is, or now was.