A Place in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
A Place in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
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There is a spot in Florida that constructed a twelve-foot-high monument in the midst of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anybody want to accomplish that?
Properly, to get started on, heroes are hard to receive with this set in position Florida - the Panhandle metropolis of Wausau, home of under 500 folks in the heart of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero understandably? Nobody else puts the possum above a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, back 1982, Wausau bought Unwell and tired of staying left out from your Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Each and every area in Florida wishes a Pageant. And not one invest Florida features a Possum Competition. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have not visited Washington County, you probably will think I'm creating this up. When you have gone to Washington County, you can expect to understand - and know This may be a correct story.
Wausau, it proved, had some rather impressive possum politicians through the early '80s. Allow me to share a handful of points they achieved:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led for the developing with the monument along State Freeway 77 in Wausau.
They even got The usa Congress in advertising the possum. Congress joined the enjoyment by giving the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau would've a place to hold its yearly Pleasurable Day and Possum Festival. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, among other matters, the Competition draws in many people each year, and In addition they like it.
Day trip For numerous educating of Northerners here. The South's possum may be the similar lowly animal you connect with opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 will do?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and shows its unpleasant overall body only at night. That's why, when you find yourself inside the ideal set in position Florida, you'll be able to listen to possum hunters' puppies baying and barking. Treed by canines, the possum 'freezes', so It is easy more than enough capture (or shoot) just one.
An inscription in regards to the monument in the center of Wausau cites the possum's purpose in providing 'each fur and foodstuff' all over the centuries. It goes on to say: 'Their existence listed here read more has presented an origin of nutritious and flavorful food items in usual moments and possesses been a vital assist to human survival much more distress and significant require.'
Chortle if you'd desire. The people of Wausau will chuckle along with you - while downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.