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 location in Florida that constructed a 12-foot-significant monument in the heart of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anybody really need to do that?
Well, to start with, heroes are hard to uncover Within this put in Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, house of less than five hundred persons in the middle of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero to state the the very least? No one else places the possum having a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, again 1982, Wausau bought fed up with getting ignored from the Florida lists of enjoyment, fairs and festivals. Every single commit Florida demands a Competition. Instead of 1 place in position Florida features a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have under no circumstances long gone to Washington County, you most likely will think I am causeing this being up. For those who have attended Washington County, you are going to recognize - and know It is just a accurate Tale.
Wausau, it proved, experienced some really potent possum politicians in early '80s. Allow me to share two factors they accomplished:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the extremely initially Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led into the creating within the monument together Point out Freeway 77 in Wausau.
They even got The us Congress to advertise the possum. Congress joined the pleasurable by the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could have a place to support its annual Enjoyable Day and Possum Festival. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, among other issues, the Pageant attracts 1000s of individuals annually, plus they like it.
Time out for your number of educating of Northerners listed here. The South's possum is the identical lowly animal you connect with opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 will do?) It is a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and displays its unappealing entire body only in the evening. This is why, if you are Within the right put set up Florida, you are able to hear possum hunters' read more puppies baying and barking. Treed by canines, the possum 'freezes', so It really is not complicated to entice (or shoot) one.
An inscription across the monument for the duration of Wausau cites the possum's job in giving 'the two fur and food' throughout the overall generations. It goes on say: 'Their existence right here has furnished an origin of nutritious and flavorful food items in regular moments and possesses been a crucial support to human survival way more distress and important need.'
Laugh if you like. The folks of Wausau will giggle together - when downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.