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's a devote Florida that developed a 12-foot-higher monument in the midst of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anybody wish to do that?
Very well, to begin with, heroes are hard to receive using this type of location in Florida - the Panhandle funds of scotland- Wausau, residence of below five hundred folks in the course of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero understandably? Nobody else puts the possum over a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, back again in 1982, Wausau got Unwell and exhausted with staying neglected While using the Florida lists of exciting, fairs and festivals. Each individual spend Florida demands a Pageant. And never one particular put set up Florida includes a Possum Competition. Why not Wausau?
If you haven't frequented Washington County, you almost certainly will Consider I am building this up. For those who have frequented Washington County, you are going to have an understanding of - and know this is the correct story.
Wausau, it proved, had some rather effective possum politicians in the course of the early '80s. Here are a number of factors they accomplished:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the initial Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led towards the developing from the monument alongside Point out Freeway click here 77 in Wausau.
They even got The usa Congress to industry the possum. Congress joined the pleasurable by offering the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have an area to help its yearly Exciting Day and Possum Pageant. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, amid other points, the Pageant attracts loads of folks Each and every and yearly, and so that they adore it.
Time out for a couple of educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you contact opossum, (Why use seven letters when 6 will do?) It is a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and exhibits its hideous overall body only at nighttime. That is why, if you end up inside the appropriate make investments Florida, you are able to listen to possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', so It is really not challenging seize (or shoot) one particular.
An inscription about the monument through Wausau cites the possum's position in supplying 'both of those fur and meals' over the full centuries. It goes on say: 'Their existence below has delivered an origin of nutritious and flavorful food in regular times and possesses been a vital assist to human survival in occasions of distress and significant want.'
Chortle If you prefer. The people of Wausau will chortle along with you - whilst downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.