A Place in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
A Place in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
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There is a make investments Florida that constructed a 12-foot-significant monument throughout town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anybody might like to do that?
Effectively, to start, heroes acquire effort and time to come by on this devote Florida - the Panhandle money of scotland - Wausau, dwelling of less than 500 people in the middle of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero as you should be expecting? No one else puts the possum with a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, again 1982, Wausau bought fed up with becoming disregarded in the Florida lists of entertaining, fairs and festivals. Every make investments Florida needs a Competition. And never one commit Florida features a Possum Festival. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have never attended Washington County, you probably will think I am creating this up. In case you have long gone to Washington County, you'll have an understanding of - and know this is the genuine story.
Wausau, it turned out, had some pretty impressive possum politicians in early '80s. Listed below are a set of issues they accomplished:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led for the constructing from your monument together Condition Highway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even bought The us Congress in endorsing the possum. Congress joined the exciting by supplying the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could possibly have a location to carry its annual Entertaining Working day and Possum Competition. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, among other matters, the Pageant draws in Many men and women each and each year, in addition they adore it.
Outing for a here couple educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is comparable lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use seven letters when six can do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and shows its ugly overall body only during the night time. That is why, if you're throughout the correct commit Florida, you'll be able to listen to possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by canines, the possum 'freezes', so It really is easy sufficient to entice (or shoot) one.
An inscription across the monument for the duration of Wausau cites the possum's purpose in furnishing 'the two fur and food stuff' from the full hundreds of years. It goes to say: 'Their presence below has furnished a supply of nutritious and flavorful food stuff in normal times and it's got been an essential help to human survival when in distress and critical want.'
Laugh if you'd want. The people today of Wausau will laugh together with you - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.