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 is a commit Florida that built a twelve-foot-high monument in the midst of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any one desire to perform that?
Well, to start with, heroes are hard to receive with this particular put in place Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, property of fewer than five hundred persons in the middle of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero to put it mildly? Nobody else places the possum to the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, back 1982, Wausau received sick and tired of staying ignored with the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Each make investments Florida demands a Competition. And never one put in Florida features a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have never long gone to Washington County, you probably will Imagine I am creating this up. When you have been to Washington County, you will fully grasp - and know that is a genuine story.
Wausau, it turned out, experienced some pretty highly effective possum politicians throughout the early '80s. Listed below are certain things they attained:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the very first Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led to your developing through the monument together State Highway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even received The usa Congress to industry the possum. Congress joined the exciting by delivering the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a place to help keep its yearly Enjoyable Day and Possum Pageant. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, among the other matters, the Pageant attracts many people annually, and they also adore it.
Time out to get a couple educating of Northerners in this article. The South's possum is identical lowly animal you get in touch more info with opossum, (Why use seven letters when six can perform?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and reveals its unpleasant overall body only during the night time. This is why, when you are within the correct make investments Florida, you are able to hear possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so it is uncomplicated adequate to catch (or shoot) 1.
An inscription around the monument in the center of Wausau cites the possum's part in offering 'both equally fur and food stuff' in the hundreds of years. It goes on to say: 'Their existence right here has supplied an origin of nutritious and flavorful meals in normal situations and possesses been a vital guide to human survival during instances of distress and critical require.'
Chuckle in the event you'd choose. The men and women of Wausau will snicker together with you - when downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.