A location in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
A location in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
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There's a area in Florida that crafted a twelve-foot-high monument all through town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anybody need to do that?
Well, to start with off, heroes are hard to seek out inside this dedicate Florida - the Panhandle funds of scotland- Wausau, residence of fewer than five hundred people in the course of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero to put it mildly? Nobody else puts the possum around a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, in 1982, Wausau acquired fed up with being omitted with the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Each location in Florida needs a festival. And never 1 devote Florida features a Possum Pageant. Why not Wausau?
If you've got under no circumstances attended Washington County, you most likely will Feel I'm developing this up. For those who have visited Washington County, you are going to comprehend - and know this can be a correct Tale.
Wausau, it ended up, had some very strong possum politicians in early '80s. Listed here are certain things they achieved:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the Original Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led towards the Possum removal Brighton making with the monument along State Highway 77 in Wausau.
They even got The usa Congress to sector the possum. Congress joined the exciting by providing the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could possibly have a location to keep its yearly Pleasurable Working day and Possum Festival. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, among other issues, the festival appeals to Lots of individuals each year, and so they like it.
Trip for many educating of Northerners below. The South's possum is definitely the similar lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will do?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and shows its ugly body only at nighttime. That's why, In case you are In the proper put in position Florida, you'll be able to listen to possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by dogs, the possum 'freezes', so It is really uncomplicated more than enough to lure (or shoot) one.
An inscription about the monument during Wausau cites the possum's purpose in delivering 'each fur and food stuff' throughout the entire centuries. It goes on say: 'Their presence in this article has provided an origin of nutritious and flavorful food stuff in regular times and possesses been a vital aid to human survival a great deal more distress and important want.'
Chuckle if you like. The people today of Wausau will giggle along - although downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.