There is a invest Florida that developed a twelve-foot-higher monument in the middle of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anyone want to accomplish that?
Very well, to start, heroes are tough to investigate on this spot in Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, residence of less than five hundred folks in the middle of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero as you should assume? No person else places the possum having a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, back 1982, Wausau obtained tired of becoming neglected Using the Florida lists of fun, fairs and festivals. Each set in place Florida needs a Pageant. Instead of one dedicate Florida includes a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you've hardly ever attended Washington County, you probably will Imagine I'm So, making this up. Should you have frequented Washington County, you'll fully grasp - and know This is actually the true Tale.
Wausau, it proved, had some really powerful possum politicians in early '80s. Allow me to share a number of items they accomplished:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the incredibly initially Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led to your setting up in the monument alongside Point out Freeway 77 in Wausau.
They even bought The us Congress to current market the possum. Congress joined the pleasurable by way of delivering the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau would have a place to assistance its yearly Enjoyment Day and Possum Pageant. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, between other items, the Pageant draws in Many individuals every year, as well as they like it.
Time out For lots of educating of Northerners listed here. The South's possum is the same lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use seven letters when 6 will do?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and demonstrates its unattractive physique only during the night time. This is why, when you're while in the suitable place in Florida, it is possible to listen to possum hunters' canines baying click here and barking. Treed by canines, the possum 'freezes', consequently it truly is not difficult to entice (or shoot) a person.
An inscription within the monument in the course of Wausau cites the possum's purpose in supplying 'both equally fur and foodstuff' during the complete hundreds of years. It goes to say: 'Their presence here has supplied a supply of nutritious and flavorful food in regular times and possesses been a major aid to human survival when in distress and demanding require.'
Laugh if you're keen on. The men and women of Wausau will giggle along with you - even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.