The Basement Project

A strong foundation for the future…

The first step in preserving the Historic Second Baptist Church is stabilizing the building and ensuring it has a solid foundation for generations to come.

After the congregation relocated to its new home on Winfield Avenue in 2009, the historic church building remained vacant. Over the years, deferred maintenance and foundation issues threatened the long-term stability of this important landmark. Before further work can occur, the structure must first be secured and protected.

In August 2026, work began on the Basement Project, a major undertaking to lift the church, construct a new foundation, and create a new basement beneath the building. The church has been carefully raised above its original foundation while crews from Randy Kramer Construction excavate, pour footings, and construct the new basement and foundation system.

The Basement Project is currently underway, and progress continues each week.

Follow Our Progress

We invite you to browse the photo gallery below to see the work completed so far, including:

• Lifting the church from its original foundation
• Site excavation
• Footing installation and concrete pours
• Foundation construction progress

Check back often as new photos and updates are added throughout the project.

Learn more about the project in this Southeast Iowa Union article: “Historic Mt. Pleasant church lifted off its foundation”