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 dedicate Florida that created a 12-foot-significant monument in the midst of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would everyone want to accomplish that?
Nicely, to start with, heroes get time and effort to come by on this area in Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, household of fewer than 500 folks in the middle of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero as you would assume? No person else puts the possum over the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, back again in 1982, Wausau bought Unwell and tired with currently being ignored from the Florida lists of exciting, fairs and festivals. Every put in place Florida demands a Pageant. And not 1 devote Florida features a Possum Competition. Why not Wausau?
If you have not attended Washington County, you almost certainly will Feel I am causeing this for being up. When you have attended Washington County, you'll recognize - and know this is a real story.
Wausau, it ended up, had some quite strong possum politicians in early '80s. Here's two points they achieved:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led to your developing during the monument along Condition Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even received America Congress to promote the possum. Congress joined the exciting by providing the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau would have a place to assistance its annual Enjoyable Day and Possum Competition. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, among the other points, the Pageant draws in Lots of individuals on a yearly basis, plus they adore it.
Day out For several educating of Northerners in this article. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you connect with opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 is going to do?) It is a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and shows its unattractive body only during the night. That is why, whenever you check here end up while in the suitable position in Florida, it is possible to listen to possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', so it is not tricky to entice (or shoot) a single.
An inscription regarding the monument in the center of Wausau cites the possum's role in giving 'both fur and food stuff' with the generations. It goes on to say: 'Their presence here has supplied an origin of nutritious and flavorful foodstuff in usual periods and it has been a significant aid to human survival for the duration of periods of distress and significant need to have.'
Chuckle If you'd like. The people today of Wausau will snicker with you - when downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.