A Place in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
A Place in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
Blog Article
There is a commit Florida that built a 12-foot-significant monument in the middle of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual desire to do that?
Nicely, to start with off, heroes get time and effort to obtain inside this put in Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, dwelling of less than 500 folks in the midst of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero to mention the the very least? No person else places the possum having a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, in 1982, Wausau bought tired of being overlooked Along with the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Every spot in Florida wishes a festival. And never one particular devote Florida contains a Possum Festival. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have not long gone to Washington County, you probably will think I am causeing this to generally be up. When you have attended Washington County, you can expect to understand - and know this can be a genuine story.
Wausau, it proved, experienced some really strong possum politicians inside the early '80s. Here are a pair of items they attained:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the main Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led towards the constructing in the monument alongside Condition Highway 77 in Wausau.
They even bought the United States Congress to industry the possum. Congress joined the enjoyment by delivering the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might need an area to hold its yearly Enjoyment Working day and Possum Pageant. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, between other things, the Pageant draws in plenty of men and women Each individual and on a yearly basis, and they like it.
Day out for the few educating of Northerners below. The South's possum will be the similar lowly animal you contact opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 will do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and reveals its hideous system only during the night time. This is exactly why, when you're inside the correct spend Florida, you could listen to possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by dogs, the possum 'freezes', so it is actually uncomplicated to hook (or shoot) 1.
An inscription with the monument in the midst of Wausau cites the possum's purpose in offering 'both fur and foodstuff' in the centuries. It goes onto say: 'Their presence below has supplied a supply of nutritious and flavorful food Possum removal Camberwell stuff in regular moments and it has been An important support to human survival in moments of distress and critical require.'
Chuckle if you like. The individuals of Wausau will laugh along with you - whilst downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.