A spot in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
A spot in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
Blog Article
There is a devote Florida that developed a 12-foot-large monument in the midst of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would everyone want to perform that?
Nicely, to start with, heroes are tricky to come back by using this invest Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, household of fewer than five hundred individuals in the course of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero as you'd anticipate? Nobody else places the possum over a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, in 1982, Wausau acquired Uninterested in currently being left out in the Florida lists of exciting, fairs and festivals. Every dedicate Florida wants a festival. And not one particular devote Florida features a Possum Pageant. Why not Wausau?
If you have never absent to Washington County, you probably will Believe I am Hence, creating this up. For those who have been to Washington County, you'll have an understanding of - and know that is a correct Tale.
Wausau, it wound up, had some really effective possum politicians through the early '80s. Here are two or three issues they completed:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the very initial Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led for the constructing with the monument together State Freeway 77 in Wausau.
They even bought The usa Congress to sector the possum. Congress joined the enjoyment by giving the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have an area to hold its once-a-year Exciting Day and Possum Festival. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, among other factors, the Pageant draws in lots of folks Each and every and yearly, and they also find it irresistible.
Outing for lots of educating of Northerners in this article. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you connect with opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six will do?) It is a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and shows its unpleasant body only in the evening. That is why, when you are inside proper place in Florida, you may listen to possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by canines, the possum 'freezes', so It will probably be straightforward ample to hook (or shoot) one.
An inscription across the monument during Wausau cites the possum's function in supplying 'equally fur and food items' all through the centuries. It goes on to say: here 'Their existence here has supplied a source of nutritious and flavorful foods in standard periods and consists of been an important assist to human survival in periods of distress and significant need.'
Chuckle If you need. The individuals of Wausau will chuckle together with you - when downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.