The 1952 invention of the pontoon motorboat in the United States is credited to a farmer who lived on the Horseshoe Chain of Lakes, near Richmond, Minnesota. Ambrose Weeres put a wooden platform on two columns of steel barrels welded together end-to-end, creating a sturdy deck that would be more stable on a lake than a conventional boat. Living in the "Land of 10,000 Lakes", Weeres thought this idea might be marketed. Many Richmond residents assisted with the making of the pontoon, most notably Edwin Torborg.  The first boat was "The Empress". They built a few boats and sold them with the help of dealers. Weeres Industries to meet unexpected demand was then created. Weeres, later called "Mr. Pontoon", was elected to the Minnesota Marina Hall of Fame.