Linda (Hanson) Wibalda

Linda is the granddaughter of Harrison Stanley Haas ¹ and Ruth (Eubanks) Haas, her mother, Avis (Haas) Hanson, being Harry and Ruth's only child.

Harrison Haas was born on South Manitou, and grew up on the island. At an early age he became a Surfman in the US Lifesaving Service, assigned to the Lifesaving Station on South Manitou Island. The U.S.L.S.S became the U.S. Coast Guard, Harrison rose to the rank of Boatswain (Chief Bosun's Mate), and served as the senior NCO in charge at several lifesavings stations around Lakes Michigan and Huron.

In 1915, Harry met Miss. Ruth Eubanks, the step-daughter of fellow island coastguardsman William L. Janssens. They were married in November of that year. Their only child, Avis, was born the following July.

This collection include the following images:

• LW001.jpg: Mother and child are Ruth Haas and infant daughter Avis. Standing is Ruth's mother, Mabel (Baldwin) Eubanks Janssens, with her son 8-year old Kenneth and daughter 3-year old Wilma. (Unhappily, William Janssens, who was Mabel's second husband, drowned at South Manitou in June of 1918.) (photo c. August 1916)
• LW002.jpg: Ruth Haas and granddaughter Linda Hanson. (photo c. 1944)
• LW003.jpg: Avis Haas (photo c.1921)
• LW004.jpg: Ruth and Harrison Haas (photo c. 1921).

[1] For more on Harrison Haas, see this newsletter issue. The recemt restoration of the Haas home on the island, see this Photo Essay.