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 commit Florida that constructed a twelve-foot-higher monument in the middle of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would everyone choose to do that?
Effectively, initial off, heroes are tough to obtain with this particular commit Florida - the Panhandle metropolis of Wausau, household of under five hundred people in the course of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an unlikely hero To place it mildly? No one else puts the possum that has a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, in 1982, Wausau received Weary of being neglected from the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Every put in position Florida requires a Pageant. And never just one make investments Florida features a Possum Pageant. Why not Wausau?
If you haven't been to Washington County, you probably will Believe I am causeing this to become up. For those who have long gone to Washington County, you are going to fully grasp - and know this can be a correct story.
Wausau, it turned out, experienced some fairly powerful possum politicians in early '80s. Here i will discuss two factors they accomplished:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led towards the creating Using the monument along Condition Highway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even acquired the United States Congress to industry the possum. Congress joined the fun by means of providing the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a area to guidance its once-a-year Enjoyable Day and Possum Festival. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, amongst other factors, the festival appeals to a lot of folks annually, in addition they locate it irresistible.
Outing For a lot of educating of Northerners below. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and shows its unsightly physique only at nighttime. That's why, when you are inside the suitable make investments Florida, you'll be able to listen to possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so it's not difficult to hook (or shoot) 1.
An inscription within the monument in the course of Wausau cites the possum's role in giving 'the two fur and foods' all over the hundreds of years. It goes on say: 'Their presence listed here has offered a source of nutritious and flavorful meals in standard check here instances and possesses been A vital assist to human survival when in distress and critical need to have.'
Laugh if you like. The people today of Wausau will giggle in addition to you - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.