There is a devote Florida that developed a twelve-foot-large monument in the middle of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anyone might like to do that?
Properly, initial off, heroes are really hard to search out on this put set up Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, residence of much less than five hundred folks in the course of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero as you'll expect? No one else places the possum on the pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, in 1982, Wausau obtained fed up with currently being ignored through the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Each individual commit Florida desires a festival. And not 1 area in Florida carries a Possum Festival. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have never gone to Washington County, you almost certainly will Assume I'm developing this up. When you have frequented Washington County, you can realize - and know it is a accurate story.
Wausau, it proved, had some very highly effective possum politicians throughout the early '80s. Here are a couple of items they accomplished:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the primary Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led towards the creating within the monument together Point out Freeway 77 in Wausau.
They even got America Congress to advertise the possum. Congress joined the exciting by check here the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could possibly have an area to hold its once-a-year Enjoyable Day and Possum Pageant. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, between other things, the festival attracts Many of us every year, and they also like it.
Day trip for plenty of educating of Northerners in this article. The South's possum is the same lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 can do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and displays its unappealing physique only at nighttime. This is exactly why, any time you find yourself inside the ideal commit Florida, you'll be able to listen to possum hunters' puppies baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so It will likely be not challenging to entice (or shoot) just one.
An inscription in regards to the monument in the center of Wausau cites the possum's role in delivering 'both fur and foodstuff' throughout the generations. It goes on to say: 'Their existence here has offered a supply of nutritious and flavorful foods in usual periods and it has been An important assist to human survival when in distress and significant want.'
Laugh If you'd like. The persons of Wausau will chuckle together with you - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.