There is a place in position Florida that developed a twelve-foot-substantial monument in the heart of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual wish to do that?
Well, to begin with, heroes are challenging to obtain on this place in place Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, house of underneath 500 people in the heart of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero to convey the least? No one else puts the possum by using a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, last 1982, Wausau acquired Ill and drained with currently being neglected within the Florida lists of exciting, fairs and festivals. Every single commit Florida demands a Competition. Rather than 1 area in Florida carries a Possum Festival. Why don't you Wausau?
If you haven't frequented Washington County, you probably will Feel I am producing this up. When you have attended Washington County, you'll realize - and know This is a true story.
Wausau, it proved, had some pretty strong possum politicians in the course of the early '80s. Allow me to share several matters they attained:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led to your setting up Along with the monument alongside Point out Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even acquired the United States Congress to promote the possum. Congress joined the exciting through supplying the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a place to carry its annual Exciting Day and Possum Pageant. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, between other points, the festival appeals to lots of men and women each and every year, and so they find it irresistible.
Day out For most educating of Northerners below. The South's possum may be the similar lowly animal you connect with opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six will do?) It is a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and displays its unsightly entire body only during the night time. This is exactly why, Should you be Within the proper place set up Florida, you more info can listen to possum hunters' canines baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', so It is really easy more than enough to entice (or shoot) a single.
An inscription regarding the monument in the center of Wausau cites the possum's purpose in providing 'the two fur and food items' throughout the hundreds of years. It goes on to say: 'Their presence here has supplied an origin of nutritious and flavorful foodstuff in standard instances and it has been a significant guide to human survival in periods of distress and significant require.'
Chortle if you like. The folks of Wausau will snicker along with you - even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.