There is a spot in Florida that built a 12-foot-large monument in the center of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anyone desire to do that?
Well, to start, heroes are tough to receive in this invest Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, house of a lot less than 500 folks in the midst of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero to put it mildly? No person else puts the possum that has a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, back in 1982, Wausau received Ill and Weary of being disregarded in the Florida lists of enjoyment, fairs and festivals. Each spot in Florida needs a festival. And never one particular make investments Florida carries a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you have not been to Washington County, you almost certainly will Consider I'm causeing this being up. When you have absent to Washington County, you'll understand - and know This is actually the accurate Tale.
Wausau, it proved, had some rather impressive possum politicians during the early '80s. Allow me to share two items they accomplished:
They website persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the incredibly first Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led into the constructing within the monument together State Freeway 77 in Wausau.
They even acquired The us Congress to advertise the possum. Congress joined the fun by supplying the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau may need a place to carry its once-a-year Enjoyment Working day and Possum Pageant. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, among the other things, the festival attracts 1000s of persons every year, and In addition they discover it irresistible.
Time out for a lot of educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you contact opossum, (Why use seven letters when six can do?) It is a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and shows its hideous body only at nighttime. This is exactly why, when you're in the suitable devote Florida, it is possible to hear possum hunters' dogs baying and barking. Treed by dogs, the possum 'freezes', so it is not tough to hook (or shoot) a single.
An inscription within the monument in the course of Wausau cites the possum's position in supplying 'both equally fur and foods' in the course of the full centuries. It goes to say: 'Their presence right here has furnished a resource of nutritious and flavorful food in typical moments and possesses been A necessary help to human survival for the duration of moments of distress and significant need to have.'
Giggle if you like. The individuals of Wausau will laugh along with you - while downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.