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 is a commit Florida that developed a twelve-foot-higher monument in the center of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any one ought to do that?
Well, to begin, heroes take effort and time to investigation During this commit Florida - the Panhandle money of scotland- Wausau, household of less than 500 folks in the center of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an unlikely hero as you'd probably be expecting? No one else places the possum around the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, in 1982, Wausau received sick and tired of staying overlooked within the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Each devote Florida requirements a Pageant. And never a single location in Florida carries a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you have not absent to Washington County, you almost certainly will Feel I am generating this up. When you have frequented Washington County, you are going to understand - and know it is a true Tale.
Wausau, it wound up, experienced some pretty potent possum politicians in early '80s. Allow me to share two matters they accomplished:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the initial Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led for the developing in the monument alongside Point out Highway 77 in Wausau.
They even got The usa Congress in advertising and marketing the possum. Congress joined get more info the exciting by offering the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau would have a place to carry its yearly Enjoyable Day and Possum Pageant. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, amongst other matters, the festival draws in Many individuals every year, and they adore it.
Time out for many educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is the same lowly animal you connect with opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and exhibits its unattractive physique only at nighttime. That's why, once you end up inside the correct commit Florida, you'll be able to listen to possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by canines, the possum 'freezes', as a result it truly is not so tough to hook (or shoot) just one.
An inscription to the monument in the course of Wausau cites the possum's purpose in supplying 'equally fur and food stuff' throughout the generations. It goes on to say: 'Their presence right here has offered a supply of nutritious and flavorful food in normal times and it has been an important support to human survival in times of distress and demanding have to have.'
Giggle if you like. The folks of Wausau will snicker alongside - while downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.