A Place in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
A Place in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
Blog Article
There is a devote Florida that built a 12-foot-superior monument in the middle of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any person could love to do that?
Properly, to start with, heroes take time and effort to study On this spot in Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, residence of much less than 500 people in the middle of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero to convey the minimum? No one else places the possum on a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, again in 1982, Wausau obtained tired of currently being neglected while in the Florida lists of enjoyment, fairs and festivals. Just about every put in position Florida demands a Competition. And never 1 commit Florida includes a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have not long gone to Washington County, you most likely will Believe I'm causeing this to get up. In case you have been to Washington County, you are going to comprehend - and know This can be the legitimate story.
Wausau, it wound up, had some rather impressive possum politicians during the early '80s. Here are here some things they accomplished:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the extremely first Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led for the setting up from the monument together Point out Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even got America Congress to industry the possum. Congress joined the enjoyable by giving the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could possibly have an area to hold its yearly Enjoyable Day and Possum Competition. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, among other points, the festival draws in Many individuals annually, and Additionally they like it.
Day out for a few educating of Northerners in this article. The South's possum is the equivalent lowly animal you connect with opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 is going to do?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and demonstrates its unappealing human body only in the evening. This is exactly why, when you find yourself In the suitable spend Florida, you could hear possum hunters' dogs baying and barking. Treed by canines, the possum 'freezes', so It's going to be not difficult to capture (or shoot) one particular.
An inscription throughout the monument for the duration of Wausau cites the possum's job in supplying 'both fur and food' with the full centuries. It goes to say: 'Their presence listed here has delivered a source of nutritious and flavorful food items in regular moments and has been a substantial enable to human survival when in distress and demanding have to have.'
Chuckle If you'd like. The people of Wausau will chuckle coupled with you - whilst downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.