A spot in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
A spot in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
Blog Article
There's a area in Florida that constructed a twelve-foot-superior monument in the middle of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anybody want to perform that?
Very well, to begin, heroes are hard to receive using this type of put in position Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, dwelling of less than 500 persons in the midst of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero as you would probably count on? Nobody else places the possum over the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, again in 1982, Wausau received fed up with staying disregarded in the Florida lists of enjoyment, fairs and festivals. Just about every area in Florida wants a festival. Instead of one particular commit Florida features a Possum Pageant. Why not Wausau?
If you have hardly ever attended Washington County, you almost certainly will Consider I am thus, producing this up. For those who have absent to Washington County, you may recognize - and know it is a true Tale.
Wausau, it proved, experienced some quite highly effective possum politicians in the course of the early '80s. Here are a number of factors they completed:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led to the developing While using the monument alongside State Highway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even received The usa Congress to market the possum. Congress joined the exciting by the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau may need a place to help keep its yearly Pleasurable Working day and Possum Pageant. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, amongst other factors, the Pageant attracts Lots of individuals on a yearly basis, and they also adore it.
Outing For most educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum would be the equivalent lowly animal you contact opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will do?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and shows its hideous system only at night. That is why, For anyone who is inside correct location in Florida, you'll be able to listen to possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', for that reason it really is not so tough capture (or shoot) a person.
An inscription to the monument in the heart of Wausau cites the possum's position in furnishing 'each fur and foodstuff' through the centuries. It goes on to say: 'Their existence in this article has provided a resource of nutritious and flavorful meals in typical instances and it has been a crucial help to human survival considerably more check here distress and critical have to have.'
Giggle if you want. The individuals of Wausau will chortle along - even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.