A Place in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
A Place in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
Blog Article
There's a place in Florida that developed a twelve-foot-high monument in the middle of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any one would like to perform that?
Effectively, to begin with, heroes are difficult to research with this particular commit Florida - the Panhandle money of scotland - Wausau, property of fewer than 500 people in the guts of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero to put it mildly? No person else puts the possum within the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, again in 1982, Wausau got sick and fatigued with remaining omitted in the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Every place in Florida needs a Pageant. Rather than a person commit Florida carries a Possum Festival. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have not attended Washington County, you almost certainly will Imagine I am developing this up. If you have been to Washington County, you are going to realize - and know This is a legitimate story.
Wausau, it turned out, had some quite highly effective possum politicians throughout the early '80s. Here are two matters they completed:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the First Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led to the constructing within the monument together Point out Freeway 77 in Wausau.
They even acquired The usa Congress to publicize the possum. Congress joined the enjoyment by the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a location to help its yearly Enjoyment Day and Possum Festival. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, between other items, the festival attracts Many persons every year, and so they obtain it irresistible.
Day out for many educating of Northerners below. The South's possum is identical lowly animal you get in touch with opossum, (Why use seven letters when six can do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and displays its unattractive human body only at night. This is why, when you are inside the proper dedicate Florida, you'll be able to hear possum hunters' dogs baying and barking. Treed by dogs, the possum 'freezes', consequently it's not so difficult capture (or website shoot) 1.
An inscription for that monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's part in providing 'both equally fur and meals' through the generations. It goes on to say: 'Their presence listed here has delivered a source of nutritious and flavorful food items in normal instances and it has been a crucial help to human survival in times of distress and demanding want.'
Chortle if you like. The persons of Wausau will chortle with you - when downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.