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 put in Florida that designed a 12-foot-high monument in the center of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual might like to do that?
Perfectly, to start with, heroes are difficult to research with this particular spend Florida - the Panhandle capital of scotland- Wausau, house of fewer than five hundred folks in the center of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero to mention the least? No one else places the possum using a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, in 1982, Wausau received fed up with getting ignored in the Florida lists of exciting, fairs and festivals. Each spend Florida demands a Competition. And not one particular make investments Florida contains a Possum Festival. Why don't you Wausau?
If you haven't been to Washington County, you most likely will Assume I'm building this up. When you've got been to Washington County, you are going to recognize - and know It's really a genuine story.
Wausau, it proved, experienced some very strong possum politicians in early '80s. Here's a pair of factors they accomplished:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the main Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led for the setting up Using the monument along Point out Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even got the United States Congress in marketing the possum. Congress joined the entertaining by furnishing the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might need a location to help its once-a-year Pleasurable Day and Possum Pageant. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, between other matters, the Competition attracts A large number of people on a yearly basis, and so that they find it irresistible.
Outing for a lot of educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is identical lowly animal you contact opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six will do?) It is a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and exhibits its ugly system only during the night time. This is exactly why, when you're within the correct commit Florida, you may listen to possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by canines, the possum 'freezes', click here so it really is not so tough to trap (or shoot) one.
An inscription across the monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's part in supplying 'both fur and meals' in the centuries. It goes on to say: 'Their existence here has furnished an origin of nutritious and flavorful food stuff in typical situations and possesses been a big support to human survival in situations of distress and critical want.'
Giggle if you love. The individuals of Wausau will chuckle along with you - even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.