A Place in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
A Place in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
Blog Article
There is a devote Florida that constructed a 12-foot-superior monument in the heart of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any person really need to do that?
Effectively, to get started with, heroes acquire effort and time to obtain within just this put in Florida - the Panhandle metropolis of Wausau, residence of much less than 500 people in the center of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an unlikely hero To place it mildly? Nobody else puts the possum over a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, again 1982, Wausau obtained Ill and Weary of currently being ignored while in the Florida lists of pleasurable, fairs and festivals. Every commit Florida wishes a Pageant. And not a person position in Florida encompasses a Possum Festival. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have not frequented Washington County, you almost certainly will Feel I am Hence, earning this up. When you've got been to Washington County, you may comprehend - and know This may be a accurate story.
Wausau, it proved, experienced some fairly strong possum politicians during the early '80s. Here i will discuss some things they achieved:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the initial Saturday 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 in advertising and marketing the possum. Congress joined the exciting through offering the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a place to assistance its annual Entertaining Day and Possum Festival. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, among the other things, the Competition appeals to Many individuals Every single and each and every year, and they like it.
Time out for a several educating of Northerners listed here. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you connect with opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 more info will do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and shows its unsightly body only during the night. That's why, when you're inside the ideal make investments Florida, you could listen to possum hunters' puppies baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so It will likely be effortless capture (or shoot) one particular.
An inscription about the monument in the center of Wausau cites the possum's role in giving 'both of those fur and food' from the centuries. It goes to say: 'Their existence listed here has supplied a supply of nutritious and flavorful foodstuff in regular moments and it has been a vital help to human survival when in distress and critical need to have.'
Giggle if you like. The folks of Wausau will chuckle together - although downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.