A spot in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
A spot in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
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There's a spot in Florida that built a twelve-foot-superior monument in the middle of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual would like to accomplish that?
Effectively, to start, heroes are challenging to exploration inside this dedicate Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, dwelling of underneath 500 persons for the duration of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an unlikely hero To place it mildly? No person else puts the possum around the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, again 1982, Wausau obtained Uninterested in currently being overlooked of the Florida lists of entertaining, fairs and festivals. Each and every area in Florida requires a Pageant. Rather than a person location in Florida incorporates a Possum Pageant. Why not Wausau?
If you have never gone to Washington County, you probably will Assume I am causeing this being up. When you've got attended Washington County, you can fully grasp - and know it is a correct Tale.
Wausau, it proved, experienced some rather effective possum politicians in early '80s. Here i will discuss two points they accomplished:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led to more info the constructing through the monument together Point out Highway 77 in Wausau.
They even received The usa Congress to current market the possum. Congress joined the exciting by means of delivering the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could have a spot to carry its once-a-year Enjoyment Working day and Possum Pageant. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, among other things, the Competition draws in heaps of individuals each and annually, and they also adore it.
Time out For a lot of educating of Northerners below. The South's possum is identical lowly animal you connect with opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will probably do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and demonstrates its ugly entire body only during the night time. That's why, if you are Within the suitable commit Florida, you could listen to possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', hence it is easy sufficient to hook (or shoot) just one.
An inscription about the monument throughout Wausau cites the possum's part in providing 'both equally fur and foods' from the centuries. It goes onto say: 'Their existence here has offered a resource of nutritious and flavorful foods in usual occasions and has been a very important help to human survival when in distress and significant need.'
Chortle if you like. The people of Wausau will chuckle together - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.