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 is a location in Florida that created a twelve-foot-superior monument throughout town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any person need to do that?
Properly, to start with off, heroes are challenging to exploration on this commit Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, house of underneath five hundred individuals throughout Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero to put it mildly? No person else puts the possum around a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, back in 1982, Wausau obtained Unwell and tired with staying neglected Together with the Florida lists of entertaining, fairs and festivals. Just about every commit Florida would like a Pageant. Instead of a single invest Florida contains a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you haven't frequented Washington County, you most likely will Feel I'm causeing this to get up. In case you have been to Washington County, you'll realize - and know Here is the true story.
Wausau, it proved, had some very potent possum politicians in the early '80s. Here are certain things they achieved:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led to your setting up with the monument along Condition Highway 77 in Wausau.
They even received The us Congress to market the possum. Congress joined the fun via supplying the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau would've check here a place to hold its once-a-year Enjoyment Working day and Possum Competition. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, between other factors, the Competition appeals to thousands of persons on a yearly basis, and In addition they like it.
Trip for any few educating of Northerners listed here. The South's possum is identical lowly animal you phone opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will do?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and shows its hideous system only at nighttime. That is why, if you find yourself within appropriate devote Florida, it is possible to listen to possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by pet dogs, the possum 'freezes', for that reason it's not difficult to catch (or shoot) a single.
An inscription over the monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's position in furnishing 'the two fur and food' through the entire generations. It goes to say: 'Their existence right here has provided an origin of nutritious and flavorful food in usual periods and possesses been a significant support to human survival much more distress and demanding will need.'
Snicker If you would like. The men and women of Wausau will chortle with you - while downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.