A location in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
A location in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
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There's a set set up Florida that created a twelve-foot-large monument through city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anybody choose to do that?
Nicely, initially off, heroes are tricky to come by On this spot in Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, dwelling of fewer than 500 folks in the midst of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero to state the the very least? No person else places the possum on the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, very last 1982, Wausau received sick and fatigued with remaining overlooked Together with the Florida lists of fun, fairs and festivals. Each invest Florida requires a Pageant. And never 1 put in position Florida contains a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you haven't been to Washington County, you almost certainly will Assume I'm So, generating this up. When you've got visited Washington County, you'll recognize - and know it is a real story.
Wausau, it proved, had some rather impressive possum politicians in early '80s. Here are two issues they achieved:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the Preliminary Saturday here in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led on the creating from the monument along Condition Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even acquired America Congress to market place the possum. Congress joined the exciting by providing the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could have a place to maintain its annual Pleasurable Working day and Possum Pageant. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, between other matters, the Competition draws in Lots of individuals every year, and so they discover it irresistible.
Time out for many educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is comparable lowly animal you phone opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 can do?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and reveals its unpleasant system only during the night. This is exactly why, when you are from the proper place in Florida, you are able to hear possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by dogs, the possum 'freezes', hence it can be not so challenging seize (or shoot) a person.
An inscription regarding the monument in the center of Wausau cites the possum's part in offering 'the two fur and foods' all through the generations. It goes on to say: 'Their existence here has furnished an origin of nutritious and flavorful food items in normal times and possesses been an important assist to human survival during moments of distress and important need to have.'
Laugh in case you'd like. The folks of Wausau will chortle together with you - even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.