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 dedicate Florida that created a twelve-foot-large monument in the center of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual should do that?
Well, to begin with, heroes are tough to uncover in this place in Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, property of under five hundred individuals in the middle of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero to put it mildly? No one else puts the possum with a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, final 1982, Wausau obtained Ill and Fed up with getting neglected Using the Florida lists of exciting, fairs and festivals. Every devote Florida would like a Pageant. And not 1 set in place Florida contains a Possum Festival. Why don't you Wausau?
If you haven't visited Washington County, you probably will Imagine I am building this up. If you have been to Washington County, you can expect to recognize - and know This is a real story.
Wausau, it proved, experienced some rather powerful possum politicians within the early '80s. Listed below are two points they accomplished:
They persuaded check here the Florida Legislature to proclaim the really first Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led to your developing with the monument together State Freeway 77 in Wausau.
They even got The usa Congress in advertising the possum. Congress joined the fun via giving the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau would've a location to hold its yearly Enjoyable Day and Possum Pageant. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, among other factors, the Competition appeals to lots of folks Each and every and every year, plus they love it.
Time out For numerous educating of Northerners listed here. The South's possum is comparable lowly animal you contact opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six will probably do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and reveals its hideous body only at night. This is why, When you are from the suitable area in Florida, you could hear possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so it is straightforward to catch (or shoot) one particular.
An inscription across the monument in the midst of Wausau cites the possum's function in providing 'both of those fur and foodstuff' in the generations. It goes on to say: 'Their presence in this article has supplied a supply of nutritious and flavorful meals in usual times and has been An important support to human survival when in distress and significant need.'
Chuckle If you need. The men and women of Wausau will giggle in addition to you - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.