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 commit Florida that developed a 12-foot-large monument throughout city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anyone ought to do that?
Effectively, to begin with, heroes just take effort and time to analysis using this type of set in position Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, dwelling of much less than 500 individuals in the middle of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an unlikely hero as you would hope? No one else places the possum within the pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, again in 1982, Wausau got tired of being omitted during the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Every single make investments Florida requirements a festival. Instead of a person put in Florida carries a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you have not been to Washington County, you most likely will Assume I am creating this up. When you've got long gone to Washington County, you may have an understanding of - and know this can be a correct story.
Wausau, it proved, experienced some pretty powerful possum politicians in early '80s. Here are some things they accomplished:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the initial Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led to the making with the monument together Point click here out Freeway 77 in Wausau.
They even obtained The usa Congress in promoting the possum. Congress joined the entertaining by delivering the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might need a location to help its once-a-year Enjoyable Working day and Possum Competition. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, amid other points, the Pageant draws in A lot of people each year, and so they adore it.
Trip for a several educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is definitely the equivalent lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six will complete?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and reveals its ugly human body only at nighttime. That is why, whenever you end up within right commit Florida, you may listen to possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by canines, the possum 'freezes', so Will probably be not so challenging to trap (or shoot) one particular.
An inscription over the monument in the course of Wausau cites the possum's part in supplying 'both fur and food items' over the entire generations. It goes on to say: 'Their presence below has supplied an origin of nutritious and flavorful foods in standard periods and includes been An important aid to human survival when in distress and significant need.'
Chortle if you like. The people today of Wausau will chuckle along with you - although downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.