A spot in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
A spot in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
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There's a devote Florida that designed a 12-foot-superior monument in the guts of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anybody would like to accomplish that?
Nicely, first off, heroes consider time and effort to get On this spot in Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, dwelling of lower than 500 folks in the course of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero as you'll anticipate? No person else places the possum on the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, in 1982, Wausau got Ill and worn out with remaining ignored while in the Florida lists of exciting, fairs and festivals. Each and every devote Florida demands a Pageant. And not 1 commit Florida contains a Possum Festival. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have not absent to Washington County, you most likely will Assume I am Hence, creating this up. When you've got gone to Washington County, you may have an understanding of - and know This may be a accurate Tale.
Wausau, it proved, had some really highly effective possum politicians over the early '80s. Here's two issues they completed:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led to the building of the monument alongside Condition Highway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even received The us Congress to current market the possum. Congress joined the fun by giving the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a spot to hold its annual Entertaining Day and Possum Competition. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, between other points, the Competition appeals to Many individuals on a yearly basis, and they also like it.
Trip for just a several educating of Northerners here. The South's possum could be the identical lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will do?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and demonstrates its ugly human body only during the night. That's why, When you are inside the suitable area in Florida, you can hear possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum check here 'freezes', for that reason it truly is not so tricky capture (or shoot) 1.
An inscription to the monument in the course of Wausau cites the possum's function in giving 'both fur and food items' from the centuries. It goes to say: 'Their existence here has supplied a useful resource of nutritious and flavorful food items in standard instances and it's been a big assist to human survival in situations of distress and critical need to have.'
Snicker if you want. The persons of Wausau will giggle together - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.