A Place in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
A Place in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
Blog Article
There's a invest Florida that constructed a twelve-foot-higher monument for the duration of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual might like to do that?
Nicely, to begin with, heroes are challenging to investigation inside of this place in Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, property of less than five hundred folks through Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero to mention the the very least? Nobody else places the possum above a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, very last 1982, Wausau acquired Ill and Weary of being ignored from the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Just about every location in Florida requires a festival. Instead of 1 make investments Florida carries a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you have never visited Washington County, you most likely will Believe I am generating this up. For those who have attended Washington County, you'll understand - and know this is the real Tale.
Wausau, it turned out, experienced some pretty strong possum politicians in early '80s. Listed below are a pair of issues they attained:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the Original Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led to your creating With all the monument together State Highway 77 in Wausau.
They even bought the United States Congress in endorsing the possum. Congress joined the entertaining by the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could possibly have a location to keep its once-a-year Enjoyable Working day and Possum Competition. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, among the other things, the Competition draws in Lots of people Each and every and each and every year, and In addition they discover it irresistible.
Outing for just a handful of educating of Northerners below. The South's possum is equivalent lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will do?) It is a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and exhibits its hideous overall body only at night. This is why, if you are in the correct place in Florida, you are able to hear possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', so it is very simple adequate to hook (or shoot) one particular.
An inscription across the monument in the guts of Wausau cites the possum's purpose in furnishing 'both of those fur and foods' throughout the centuries. It goes on say: 'Their presence in this article has provided website a source of nutritious and flavorful foods in normal moments and is made up of been an important aid to human survival when in distress and significant will need.'
Chortle if you're keen on. The people today of Wausau will snicker with you - although downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.