Augusta architect designed Eisenhower Cabin

Augusta architect Lowrey Stulb and his firm, Eve and Stulb, designed many prominent buildings after World War II, including the Augusta Library and Butler High School.

But the one he is best known for isn’t open to the public and is occupied for only a few months out of the year.

The Eisenhower Cabin – some call it Ike’s Cabin, others refer to it as Mamie’s Cabin – is near the 10th tee at Augusta National Golf Club. It was built to serve as headquarters for President Eisenhower and his family for their visits to Augusta.

The white cottage resembles the other cabins on the property but is much bigger than it appears from the outside. It also contains certain amenities not found in the other structures.

Augusta National announced plans for the seven-room cabin before the 1953 Masters Tournament. It consisted of three floors, including a basement that
was used by the Secret Ser­vice as its headquarters in Augusta.

Stulb, 94, said the president kept a red phone next to his bed, presumably the presidential hot line in case of emergency.

“We started Monday morning at 8 o’clock after the tournament that year,” Stulb said. “We had construction crews in there that morning. We had until Oct. 1. On Oct. 1, they turned keys over right on time.”

Stulb’s father-in-law was Ed Dudley, the first club professional at Augusta National and a frequent playing partner of Eisenhower.

The cabin wasn’t Stulb’s only project at Augusta National: He also designed Sarazen Bridge; the golf shop, a suite above it, and an office used by Eisenhower; and the wine cellar underneath the clubhouse.

Dealing with Clifford Roberts, the chairman who was a stickler for details, wasn’t a problem, Stulb said.

“Mr. Roberts really worked out the program. The first sketch I made, we cut it down, and he had more bedrooms up there,” he said. “It was an easy thing. I designed it like I thought it ought to be. They’re gone in the summer, and (Bobby) Jones and
Cliff came back about a month before it was finished and called me up. I went out there and everything was fine.”

After completing Eisen­hower Cabin, Stulb received a gold charm from the president and first lady. It contains a picture of the finished cabin and replica signatures from the Eisenhowers, Roberts and Jones.

“I don’t give it much thought,” Stulb said of his work around Augusta Nation­al. “But I am proud of that gold piece.”