A spot in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
A spot in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
Blog Article
There is a put set up Florida that developed a 12-foot-higher monument in the course of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any one wish to accomplish that?
Very well, to start with, heroes are hard to receive on this commit Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, household of less than five hundred people in the guts of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero understandably? No person else puts the possum which has a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, again 1982, Wausau got Ill and Fed up with currently being overlooked in the Florida lists of fun, fairs and festivals. Each and every put in Florida wants a festival. And not a single spend Florida features a Possum Competition. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have by no means long gone to Washington County, you most likely will Consider I'm generating this up. If you have frequented Washington County, you are going to understand - and know this is the genuine story.
Wausau, it wound up, had some pretty impressive possum politicians in early '80s. Listed below are some things they accomplished:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the extremely initially Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led on the making on the monument alongside Point out Highway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even got The us Congress to current market the possum. Congress joined the enjoyment by furnishing the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a spot to help keep its once-a-year Exciting Day and Possum Competition. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, amid other items, the Pageant draws in many people annually, and in order that they locate it irresistible.
Day out For a lot of educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is analogous lowly animal you connect with opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 will complete?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and shows its unpleasant overall body only at night. That's why, if you are inside the appropriate make investments Florida, it is possible to listen to possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by pet dogs, the possum 'freezes', so Will probably be not hard to catch (or shoot) one.
An inscription to the monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's part in delivering 'both of those fur and meals' in the generations. It goes onto say: 'Their presence in this article has provided a resource of nutritious and flavorful meals in regular occasions and it's been A necessary assist to human survival in periods of distress and demanding have to have.'
Giggle if you want. The men and women of Wausau will read more snicker along with you - even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.