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 location in Florida that built a 12-foot-superior monument in the guts of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would everyone want to accomplish that?
Very well, to start out, heroes get time and effort to investigate Within this put in Florida - the Panhandle money of scotland - Wausau, home of less than five hundred individuals in the center of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero To place it mildly? Nobody else puts the possum in excess of a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, back again 1982, Wausau obtained sick and Bored with becoming neglected Together with the Florida lists of fun, fairs and festivals. Each and every commit Florida demands a Competition. Instead of one place in Florida has a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you haven't gone to Washington County, you most likely will Feel I am creating this up. For those who have been to Washington County, you may comprehend - and know this is the legitimate Tale.
Wausau, it wound up, experienced some pretty effective possum politicians in early '80s. Allow me to share two matters they achieved:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the First Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led towards the developing within the monument along Condition Freeway 77 in Wausau.
They even bought The us Congress in selling the possum. Congress joined the enjoyable as a result of offering the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a location to hold its annual Entertaining Day and Possum Festival. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, among other points, the Competition draws in lots of people annually, and in order that they love it.
Day trip For numerous educating of Northerners below. The South's possum is the identical lowly animal you connect with opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 will do?) It is a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and demonstrates its ugly entire body only at night. This is why, When you are within suitable position in Florida, you can listen to possum hunters' canines baying and barking. Treed by dogs, the possum 'freezes', therefore it is not so difficult to hook (or shoot) one.
An inscription for that monument in the website middle of Wausau cites the possum's role in offering 'both of those fur and meals' in the hundreds of years. It goes on to say: 'Their existence right here has furnished a source of nutritious and flavorful foods in standard moments and it's got been A necessary assist to human survival when in distress and important need to have.'
Laugh If you'd like. The persons of Wausau will chuckle along with you - even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.