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's a area in Florida that created a twelve-foot-large monument throughout town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would everyone could possibly love to do that?
Effectively, to start out, heroes are complicated to return by on this place set up Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, home of less than five hundred individuals in the heart of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero To place it mildly? No one else places the possum on the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, again in 1982, Wausau received tired of getting ignored from the Florida lists of enjoyment, fairs and festivals. Each put in place Florida would like a Competition. Instead of one place in place Florida includes a Possum Pageant. Why not Wausau?
If you've by no means attended Washington County, you probably will Feel I'm generating this up. If you have been to Washington County, you will comprehend - and know It's a genuine story.
Wausau, it proved, had some pretty highly effective possum politicians in early '80s. Listed here are two things they attained:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the very 1st Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led for the setting up during the monument along State Highway 77 in Wausau.
They even acquired The usa Congress to publicize the possum. Congress joined the fun by the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a area to carry its annual Entertaining Working day and Possum Pageant. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, among other things, the Competition draws in 1000s of men and women each year, and In addition they adore it.
Outing for many educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is the same lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six will almost certainly do?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and exhibits its hideous entire body only during the night time. That is why, For anyone who is within right put in Florida, it is possible to listen more info to possum hunters' puppies baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so it is actually not so hard to hook (or shoot) a single.
An inscription for the monument in the center of Wausau cites the possum's role in giving 'both fur and foods' with the full centuries. It goes on to say: 'Their existence listed here has delivered a useful resource of nutritious and flavorful food in ordinary instances and is made up of been a big help to human survival when in distress and critical need to have.'
Laugh if you want. The folks of Wausau will chuckle together with you - even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.