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 is a location in Florida that constructed a twelve-foot-substantial monument in the middle of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anyone would like to accomplish that?
Effectively, to start with off, heroes get time and effort to return by within just this devote Florida - the Panhandle money of scotland - Wausau, household of less than five hundred individuals in the course of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero to mention the the very least? Nobody else puts the possum around a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, final 1982, Wausau obtained Fed up with becoming ignored Using the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Just about every set in position Florida wants a Pageant. And not a person area in Florida provides a Possum Pageant. Why not Wausau?
If you have never been to Washington County, you probably will Consider I'm creating this up. If you have attended Washington County, you will recognize - and know It is just a real Tale.
Wausau, it proved, experienced some really powerful possum politicians noisy . '80s. Listed below are two points they attained:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the main Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led into the creating with the monument together Point out Highway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even received The usa Congress to market place the possum. Congress joined the entertaining by the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could have a spot to hold its yearly Exciting Working day and Possum Pageant. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, amid other items, the Pageant attracts thousands of persons Every and annually, they usually like it.
Day trip for any several educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 can do?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and displays its unattractive body only at nighttime. This is why, if you find yourself inside the proper put in Florida, you could hear possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by canines, the possum 'freezes', hence it really is simple to catch (or shoot) 1.
An inscription about the monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's function in delivering 'equally fur and foodstuff' from the complete hundreds of years. It goes on say: 'Their presence below has offered a resource of nutritious check here and flavorful food items in typical times and it's been a substantial assist to human survival in moments of distress and important require.'
Laugh if you want. The people of Wausau will laugh together with you - whilst downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.