A location in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
A location in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
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There's a put in position Florida that built a 12-foot-significant monument in the center of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anyone have to do that?
Properly, to get started with, heroes are difficult to find on this invest Florida - the Panhandle metropolis of Wausau, property of below 500 folks during Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero understandably? No person else puts the possum over a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, in 1982, Wausau obtained fed up with getting ignored in the Florida lists of pleasurable, fairs and festivals. Each put in place Florida wishes a Competition. Instead of 1 place in position Florida carries a Possum Pageant. Why not Wausau?
If you have never been to Washington County, you probably will Assume I am developing this up. If you have been to Washington County, you'll understand - and know It is just a true story.
Wausau, it proved, experienced some quite highly effective possum politicians in early '80s. Here's a pair of matters they attained:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the initial Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led for the setting up within the monument along Point out Freeway 77 in Wausau.
They even obtained the United States Congress in marketing the possum. Congress joined the pleasurable by providing the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau would've a area to help its yearly Exciting Day and Possum Pageant. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, among the other matters, the Competition appeals to Many folks each year, and In addition they like it.
Time check here out for a handful of educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is analogous lowly animal you contact opossum, (Why use seven letters when 6 can do?) It is a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and reveals its unsightly overall body only at night. That is why, when you are inside the appropriate put in Florida, you could listen to possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', thus it is not so complicated to hook (or shoot) one.
An inscription with regard to the monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's role in giving 'each fur and food items' through the centuries. It goes on say: 'Their existence here has supplied an origin of nutritious and flavorful food in regular periods and has been an important support to human survival much more distress and demanding require.'
Chuckle if you prefer. The individuals of Wausau will chortle along with you - even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.