Sotoyome Machine Shop and Implement Company

The former Sotoyome Machine and Implement Co. building at 222 Healdsburg Avenue was erected in 1946-7 for industrial purposes. It is a classic example of a double Quonset Hut. The original building housed a machine shop, manufacturing and repairing all types of machinery. The economical Quonset Hut created a large adaptable space that was able to serve many different business functions in the past 75 years, including ten years as home to the famous Maherajah waterski company. Today the building has been repurposed by Paul Mahder to serve as a world class contemporary art gallery, the largest single floor gallery in California. A branch of Sotheby's International Realty also shares the space.

The former Sotoyome Machine and Implement Co. Building is an example of a double Quonset Hut (two, side-by-side) erected in 1946-47. Quonset huts were built throughout WW II and after. They were prefabricated, quick to erect, and took less material and skill than traditional buildings. The structures also provided space that could be readily adapted for different uses. Quonset huts are characterized by their half-round design and metal construction. The design is based on British Nissen Huts developed during WW I.

Founded by William Massoni, the Sotoyome Machine and Implement Co. produced and repaired winery machinery, but also manufactured farm implements, automobiles, brewery equipment, lumber mill machinery, and whatever else was needed. The Quonset hut at 222 Healdsburg Avenue was purchased from the Kraft Tile Company (a subsidiary of the Kraft Cheese Company).[1] The Kraft Tile Company was a distributor of Stran-Steel Quonset huts. So successful were they at selling that they sold over a million dollars in Quonset huts in 1946.[2]

The Sotoyome Machine and Implement Company Quonset Hut is an excellent example of the adaptability of Quonset Huts. The building has housed a machine shop, car dealerships, waterski manufacturing plant, and antique dealerships (to name only a few) before finally becoming an art gallery.

From 1966 to 1977, the Maherajah Water Ski Company occupied the building. Company founder Bob Maher moved the company to Healdsburg because it was the center of water sports activity. He opened Maherajah in the Quonset Hut at 226 Healdsburg Avenue, taking the property over from Bell Chevrolet (later Healdsburg Classics Antiques). Maherajah became the second largest employer in Healdsburg, eventually building a factory in a metal warehouse on Grant Avenue behind Giorgio’s Restaurant. The custom-made skis of eastern Ash wood were the predecessor to Maherajah's larger “gourmet wood” products, including skateboards, cutting boards and counter tops[3]

Besides producing some of the world's best water skis, Maherajah Water Skis also produced a well-remembered poster of a future sitcom star, Suzanne Somers, wearing nothing but a colorful “right on” logo in body paint.[4] Today the Paul Mahder Gallery exhibits and sells art of a more sophisticated style here. Sotheby's International Realty Company also has a flourishing office in the building. In 2018, the Healdsburg Museum presented the Adaptive Reuse award to Eric and Mary Drew and Paul Mahder in recognition of their creative repurposing of this versatile vintage metal building.

[1] Sotoyome Machine & Implement Company, Newest Manufacturing Concern, Begins Production, Healdsburg Tribune, February 7, 1947, Number 19.

[2] Quonset Sales Set Record, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Architect_and_engineer_(1947)_(14578682139).jpg

[3] Maherajah looking forward to new plant; sales brighten, The Healdsburg Tribune, Thursday, July 7, 1977, pp 8.

[4] Hoods, Holly, Artifacts: Maherajah Water Skis, Skateboards and Jacket, Russian River Recorder, Spring 2011, Issue 112, pp 9