A spot in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
A spot in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
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There's a place in position Florida that built a 12-foot-substantial monument during town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any person may possibly love to do that?
Effectively, to get started on, heroes are really hard to investigation on this devote Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, household of below 500 persons in the center of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an unlikely hero understandably? Nobody else places the possum above a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, back in 1982, Wausau acquired Ill and Sick and tired of getting neglected inside the Florida lists of fun, fairs and festivals. Each individual spot in Florida demands a Competition. Instead of 1 spend Florida has a Possum Pageant. Why not Wausau?
If you've got hardly ever visited Washington County, you almost certainly will Assume I'm making this up. For those who have attended Washington County, you will comprehend - and know this is a true story.
Wausau, it turned out, experienced some rather impressive possum politicians in early '80s. Here are a pair of items they completed:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the Preliminary Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led for the constructing within the monument together State Freeway 77 in Wausau.
They even got The usa Congress to current market the possum. Congress joined the exciting via furnishing the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau check here might have a location to help keep its once-a-year Enjoyable Day and Possum Festival. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, amongst other issues, the festival appeals to A huge number of persons yearly, and In addition they obtain it irresistible.
Outing For lots of educating of Northerners below. The South's possum would be the equivalent lowly animal you get in touch with opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six can do?) It is a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and exhibits its unappealing system only during the night time. That is why, if you're within proper commit Florida, you may hear possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so it really is not difficult to capture (or shoot) a single.
An inscription about the monument in the midst of Wausau cites the possum's part in delivering 'both equally fur and food stuff' in the generations. It goes to say: 'Their existence listed here has offered a source of nutritious and flavorful food items in typical times and contains been a major help to human survival throughout instances of distress and important have to have.'
Snicker if you want. The folks of Wausau will giggle in addition to you - whilst downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.