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 spend Florida that created a twelve-foot-high monument in the center of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any person wish to perform that?
Properly, to start with, heroes are hard to discover In this particular devote Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, dwelling of less than five hundred persons in the middle of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero to convey the least? Nobody else places the possum on the pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, back 1982, Wausau got sick and tired of getting omitted While using the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Each and every commit Florida needs a Pageant. And not a person commit Florida features a Possum Pageant. Why not Wausau?
If you've never attended Washington County, you almost certainly will Assume I am As a result, producing this up. In case you have long gone to Washington County, you will recognize - and know this can be a correct Tale.
Wausau, it turned out, experienced some fairly effective possum politicians over the early '80s. Listed below are two items they accomplished:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the main Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led for the creating While using the monument together State Highway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even obtained The us Congress to market the possum. Congress joined the enjoyable via giving the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau may have a place to hold its once-a-year Fun Day and Possum Festival. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, amid other items, the Competition attracts lots of people on a yearly basis, and in order that they like it.
Day out for any couple of educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use seven letters when 6 can do?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and shows its hideous body only at nighttime. This is read more why, whenever you find yourself inside the appropriate place in position Florida, you'll be able to hear possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', so it truly is quick to catch (or shoot) one.
An inscription around the monument during Wausau cites the possum's position in supplying 'both fur and foods' in the complete generations. It goes to say: 'Their existence right here has provided a source of nutritious and flavorful foods in standard moments and is made up of been an important support to human survival when in distress and critical need to have.'
Chuckle If you need. The men and women of Wausau will chuckle coupled with you - even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.