A Place in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
A Place in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
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There is a place in Florida that constructed a 12-foot-significant monument in the heart of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual need to do that?
Well, to get started with, heroes get time and effort to return by on this position in Florida - the Panhandle cash of scotland - Wausau, home of less than 500 people in the guts of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero as you'd assume? No person else puts the possum that has a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, in 1982, Wausau obtained Ill and exhausted with staying disregarded from your Florida lists of enjoyment, fairs and festivals. Every single make investments Florida requires a Pageant. And never one particular location in Florida incorporates a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you haven't been to Washington County, you almost certainly will Believe I am building this up. In case you have gone to Washington County, you can expect to fully grasp - and know it is a real Tale.
Wausau, it turned out, had some fairly impressive possum politicians while in the early '80s. Listed here are two things they completed:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum here Day in Florida. That led to your building while in the monument along Condition Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even obtained The us Congress in advertising and marketing the possum. Congress joined the exciting by providing the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau would have an area to support its annual Exciting Working day and Possum Competition. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, between other factors, the Pageant appeals to loads of folks Just about every and yearly, and in order that they adore it.
Day out for a few educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum will be the similar lowly animal you get in touch with opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 will conduct?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and shows its unattractive entire body only in the evening. This is exactly why, Should you be inside the suitable commit Florida, you could listen to possum hunters' puppies baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', so It is easy seize (or shoot) just one.
An inscription throughout the monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's purpose in delivering 'each fur and food stuff' in the course of the entire centuries. It goes to say: 'Their existence listed here has provided a supply of nutritious and flavorful food in standard situations and possesses been A vital assist to human survival during instances of distress and important have to have.'
Giggle if you want. The people of Wausau will laugh as well as you - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.