A location in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
A location in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
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There's a invest Florida that constructed a 12-foot-significant monument in the center of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would everyone want to accomplish that?
Very well, initial off, heroes choose effort and time to investigation on this dedicate Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, property of less than five hundred persons throughout Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero to put it mildly? No one else places the possum on a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, last 1982, Wausau acquired Ill and Fed up with currently being left out from the Florida lists of enjoyment, fairs and festivals. Each and every position in Florida needs a Competition. And not one particular position in Florida features a Possum Festival. Why don't you Wausau?
If you've got hardly ever attended Washington County, you probably will think I am causeing this to generally be up. When you have been to Washington County, you may recognize - and know It is just a accurate Tale.
Wausau, it turned out, experienced some really strong possum politicians throughout the early '80s. Here are two matters they completed:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the Original Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led for the setting up in the monument along State Highway 77 in Wausau.
They even obtained America Congress to industry the possum. Congress joined the fun by the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might need a location to support its once-a-year Enjoyment Working day and Possum Pageant. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, among other things, the Competition draws in heaps of individuals Just about every and each and every year, and so they like it.
Trip for the few educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is the identical lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six will do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and demonstrates its ugly entire body only in the evening. This is why, When you are inside the proper spend Florida, you'll be able to hear possum hunters' dogs baying and barking. Treed by dogs, the possum 'freezes', so it's not so difficult to trap (or shoot) 1.
An inscription within the monument in the course of Wausau cites the possum's position in supplying 'both of those fur and foodstuff' with the full hundreds of years. It goes on to say: 'Their existence right here has furnished a resource of nutritious and flavorful food items in normal moments and it's got been a vital help to human survival in occasions more info of distress and important need.'
Laugh should you'd choose. The folks of Wausau will chuckle with you - even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.