A location in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
A location in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
Blog Article
There's a location in Florida that constructed a twelve-foot-superior monument in the center of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anyone ought to do that?
Very well, to start out, heroes are challenging to uncover within just this position in Florida - the Panhandle metropolis of Wausau, home of lower than five hundred people in the middle of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero to say the minimum? Nobody else puts the possum using a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, back 1982, Wausau got fed up with becoming neglected with the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Each individual put set up Florida requires a Competition. Instead of just one put in place Florida contains a Possum Pageant. Why not Wausau?
If you've in no way long gone to Washington County, you most likely will Assume I'm causeing this to be up. For those who have attended Washington County, you can expect to realize - and know it is a accurate story.
Wausau, it proved, experienced some fairly effective possum politicians in early '80s. Here are two factors they accomplished:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the Preliminary Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led to the developing on the monument alongside Condition Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even received the United States Congress to publicize the possum. Congress joined the pleasurable by furnishing the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might read more have a spot to support its yearly Entertaining Working day and Possum Pageant. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, amongst other issues, the Competition appeals to Many individuals each year, and In addition they like it.
Time out for just a number of educating of Northerners in this article. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you phone opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will probably do?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and reveals its ugly physique only at nighttime. That is why, when you find yourself within the appropriate spot in Florida, you could hear possum hunters' puppies baying and barking. Treed by pet dogs, the possum 'freezes', so It'll be easy capture (or shoot) a single.
An inscription round the monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's purpose in delivering 'both equally fur and meals' in the generations. It goes onto say: 'Their presence below has delivered an origin of nutritious and flavorful food in standard instances and possesses been a major help to human survival throughout times of distress and critical need.'
Snicker for those who'd prefer. The persons of Wausau will snicker along with you - when downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.