A Place in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
A Place in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
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There's a put set up Florida that built a 12-foot-large monument in the guts of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any one choose to do that?
Effectively, to start with, heroes are hard for getting on this invest Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, house of below 500 folks in the heart of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero understandably? No person else puts the possum by using a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, final 1982, Wausau bought Ill and tired with staying neglected within the Florida lists of pleasurable, fairs and festivals. Every place in position Florida requires a Competition. And not one devote Florida contains a Possum Festival. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have not absent to Washington County, you almost certainly will Consider I am building this up. If you have been to Washington County, you'll recognize - and know this is a legitimate Tale.
Wausau, it wound up, had some really potent possum politicians in the early '80s. Listed below are a handful of points they achieved:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the really very first Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led towards the developing from the monument along Condition Freeway 77 in Wausau.
They even obtained the United States Congress in marketing the possum. Congress joined the fun by giving the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau would've a area to assistance its annual Pleasurable Working day and Possum Pageant. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, amongst other factors, the Pageant attracts A huge number of people today Just about every and each and every year, plus they locate it irresistible.
Time out for a few educating of Northerners below. The South's possum is comparable lowly animal you phone opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 will do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and exhibits its hideous system only at nighttime. This is exactly why, In case you are In the appropriate put set up Florida, you may hear possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so It truly is uncomplicated adequate capture (or shoot) one particular.
An inscription in regards to the monument in the guts of Wausau cites the possum's job in offering 'both equally fur and food stuff' through the entire generations. It goes on to say: 'Their presence listed here has presented a supply of nutritious and flavorful food in normal times and it has been an important guide to human survival far more distress and important want.'
Snicker if you love. The men and women of Wausau will snicker along with here you - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.