A Place in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
A Place in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
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There is a place in position Florida that crafted a 12-foot-significant monument in the center of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any one wish to accomplish that?
Very well, to start with, heroes are tricky to have in just this position in Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, residence of less than five hundred folks in the course of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero understandably? No person else places the possum with a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, back again 1982, Wausau got Ill and Bored with getting disregarded With all the Florida lists of enjoyment, fairs and festivals. Each dedicate Florida requires a festival. Instead of a person spend Florida provides a Possum Competition. Why not Wausau?
If you have not been to Washington County, you most likely will Imagine I am earning this up. When you have frequented Washington County, you can recognize - and know This may be a legitimate story.
Wausau, it ended up, experienced some quite impressive possum politicians in early '80s. Here are some things they attained:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim click here the incredibly very first Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led to the building Using the monument along State Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even received America Congress in advertising and marketing the possum. Congress joined the fun by providing the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have an area to hold its yearly Enjoyable Day and Possum Pageant. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, between other things, the Competition appeals to loads of men and women on a yearly basis, furthermore they adore it.
Day trip for lots of educating of Northerners in this article. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six will probably do?) It is a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and reveals its hideous body only at nighttime. That's why, if you find yourself from the proper devote Florida, you can listen to possum hunters' canines baying and barking. Treed by dogs, the possum 'freezes', consequently it really is not complicated capture (or shoot) a single.
An inscription with regard to the monument for the duration of Wausau cites the possum's position in offering 'both fur and food items' in the hundreds of years. It goes on say: 'Their presence listed here has presented a source of nutritious and flavorful food items in standard periods and has been a big help to human survival when in distress and critical want.'
Chortle If you'd like. The folks of Wausau will laugh along with you - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.