A spot in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
A spot in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
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There's a spot in Florida that constructed a 12-foot-substantial monument in the center of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual ought to do that?
Properly, to start out, heroes are tough to come by on this dedicate Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, home of fewer than five hundred folks in the guts of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an unlikely hero understandably? Nobody else places the possum on the pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, back 1982, Wausau obtained Bored with getting neglected with the Florida lists of fun, fairs and festivals. Every put in place Florida requires a Pageant. Instead of one dedicate Florida features a Possum Competition. Why not Wausau?
If you have never been to Washington County, you probably will Believe I'm developing this up. For those who have attended Washington County, you will comprehend - and know this is a true Tale.
Wausau, it turned out, had some very highly effective possum politicians while in the early '80s. Allow me to share a couple of issues they accomplished:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the primary Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Possum removal Brighton Florida. That led on the making with the monument alongside Point out Highway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even received the United States Congress to market the possum. Congress joined the fun by providing the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a location to support its annual Exciting Day and Possum Pageant. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, amongst other items, the Pageant attracts A lot of people annually, and in order that they like it.
Day out for many educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is the identical lowly animal you phone opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will accomplish?) It is a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and demonstrates its ugly entire body only in the evening. This is exactly why, when you are in the suitable devote Florida, it is possible to listen to possum hunters' canines baying and barking. Treed by pet dogs, the possum 'freezes', as a result it is not tough capture (or shoot) a single.
An inscription over the monument in the heart of Wausau cites the possum's function in offering 'equally fur and foodstuff' throughout the generations. It goes on say: 'Their presence in this article has delivered a supply of nutritious and flavorful food items in usual instances and it's got been an important support to human survival when in distress and demanding have to have.'
Laugh in the event you'd choose. The individuals of Wausau will laugh along with you - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.