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 place in Florida that created a twelve-foot-large monument in the heart of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would everyone want to accomplish that?
Nicely, to begin, heroes get time and effort to exploration On this spot in Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, home of much less than 500 folks in the center of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero to put it mildly? Nobody else places the possum more than a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, again 1982, Wausau got Unwell and Fed up with being omitted from the Florida lists of entertaining, fairs and festivals. Each and every commit Florida requires a Pageant. And never one particular set in position Florida carries a Possum Competition. Why don't you Wausau?
If you haven't frequented Washington County, you probably will Assume I am generating this up. For those who have attended Washington County, you can understand - and know It's really a accurate story.
Wausau, it turned out, experienced some pretty impressive possum politicians noisy . '80s. Listed below are a set of matters they attained:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the pretty initial Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led to your building Along with the monument alongside State Freeway 77 in Wausau.
They even bought the United States Congress to advertise the possum. Congress joined the fun by the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau can have a site to aid its yearly Enjoyable Working day and Possum Festival. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, among other issues, the Competition draws in 1000s of persons Each individual and yearly, in addition they adore it.
Trip for a few educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 can do?) It is a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and reveals its unsightly overall body only at night. That is why, when you are throughout the ideal dedicate Florida, you could listen to possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by dogs, the possum 'freezes', so it is actually uncomplicated to hook (or shoot) one.
An inscription around the monument in the midst of Wausau cites the possum's job in offering 'the two fur and food items' through the centuries. It goes onto say: 'Their existence right here has offered a resource of nutritious and flavorful meals in standard moments and it has been an essential assist to human survival in times of distress and critical will need.'
Chuckle if you prefer. The people of Wausau will giggle along with you - here even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.