A Place in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
A Place in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
Blog Article
There's a put in place Florida that constructed a 12-foot-large monument in the center of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anyone should do that?
Nicely, to get started on, heroes choose effort and time to return by inside this spend Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, residence of fewer than five hundred people in the middle of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero understandably? Nobody else puts the possum with a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, back 1982, Wausau bought fed up with being neglected within the Florida lists of exciting, fairs and festivals. Each individual location in Florida requires a Pageant. Rather than one particular devote Florida features a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you haven't attended Washington County, you probably will Believe I am generating this up. Should you have frequented Washington County, you are going to comprehend - and know This is actually the genuine story.
Wausau, it ended up, had some rather powerful possum politicians in early '80s. Listed below are two items they accomplished:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led into the building within the monument along Point out Freeway 77 in Wausau.
They even received America Congress in endorsing the possum. Congress joined the exciting by offering the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau would have a spot to hold its annual Enjoyable Day and Possum Festival. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, among other issues, the festival appeals to Lots of people Each individual and annually, and they also adore it.
Time out For lots of educating of Northerners listed here. The South's possum is comparable lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 will perform?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and exhibits its hideous body only during the night. That is why, In case you are inside the ideal put in Florida, it is possible to hear possum hunters' dogs baying and barking. Treed by pet here dogs, the possum 'freezes', so it's uncomplicated adequate capture (or shoot) just one.
An inscription about the monument in the heart of Wausau cites the possum's position in furnishing 'each fur and foodstuff' through the hundreds of years. It goes on to say: 'Their presence right here has presented a supply of nutritious and flavorful food in normal times and it has been an essential support to human survival much more distress and demanding want.'
Snicker if you're keen on. The persons of Wausau will chuckle alongside - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.