A location in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
A location in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
Blog Article
There is a devote Florida that developed a twelve-foot-high monument in the course of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anybody would like to do that?
Perfectly, initial off, heroes choose time and effort to obtain within just this devote Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, household of less than 500 persons in the center of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero understandably? Nobody else puts the possum using a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, again 1982, Wausau acquired fed up with becoming disregarded on the Florida lists of exciting, fairs and festivals. Just about every spend Florida requires a festival. Instead of 1 set in position Florida contains a Possum Festival. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have not been to Washington County, you almost certainly will think I am producing this up. For those who have been to Washington County, you will recognize - and know This is actually the accurate Tale.
Wausau, it ended up, experienced some quite potent possum politicians noisy . '80s. Allow me to share two or three factors they accomplished:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led to your developing from the monument along Condition Highway 77 in Wausau.
They even obtained America Congress to promote the possum. Congress joined the fun by providing the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could have a place to hold its annual Exciting Working day and Possum Festival. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, between other factors, the Pageant draws in Many of us each year, and so that they adore it.
Day out For numerous educating of Northerners listed here. The South's possum is identical lowly animal you connect with opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will do?) It's a smallish marsupial that here life in trees and exhibits its unappealing body only at night. That's why, when you find yourself from the suitable invest Florida, you could listen to possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', so it truly is not complicated to hook (or shoot) a person.
An inscription for your monument during Wausau cites the possum's role in giving 'the two fur and food stuff' all over the hundreds of years. It goes on to say: 'Their existence here has offered an origin of nutritious and flavorful foods in usual times and it has been an essential assist to human survival when in distress and significant want.'
Giggle if you want. The men and women of Wausau will chortle together - when downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.