Pearl Farm Featured On National TV

Birdsong Resort and Marina, Camden Kentucky Lake, TN - host to the Tennessee River Freshwater Pearl Farm - appeared on the 90-minute show - CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood, February 10 at 8:00 a.m. (Central Time). Correspondent Rita Braver traveled from New York to Nashville to Benton County to highlight the pearl industry. The special segment “High Culture” feature ran on the CBS network and all affiliate stations. Local stations included NewsChannel 3 WREG, Memphis, NewsChannel 5 WTVF, Nashville, and NewsChannel 19 WHNT, Huntsville, AL.

The feature spotlighted the “Pearls” exhibit on display at the New York American Museum of Natural History. “Pearls” is the most comprehensive exhibition ever presented on these highly sought-after gems. It examines the natural history of pearls, weaving science, art, literature, history, and exquisite jewelry into the story of pearl-forming mollusks, which are part of one the most diverse animal phyla on Earth. Bob Keast, owner of Birdsong Resort and Marina of Camden Kentucky Lake, West Tennessee, is host to the only freshwater pearl farm in America.

The John Latendresse top pearl collection items are on display in the New York museum through April 14, 2002. The exhibit will then be moved to the Field Museum in Chicago, IL, June 28, 2002 - January 5, 2003. The Latendressee collection showcases freshwater pearls - the official gem of the state of Tennessee. John Latendresse experimented with the production of the American-cultured pearl for over twenty five years in efforts to avoid its extinction. Through Tennessee Shell Company, Inc. - once the mother company of American Pearl Company and American Pearl Creations - they pioneered the business of exporting mollusk shells to Japan. Because of the thickness of our shells, the Japanese use the American mother-of-pearl as the nucleus for their Japanese cultured pearls. Species of mussels and water conditions make the American-grown mussel more desirable for “seeding” than the thinner-shelled, lower-luster Japanese shells.

Latendresse discovered that Japanese technology did not apply to the different species of pearl-bearing mollusks found in the United States. In 1963, he began experiments nucleating various species of mussels. First attempts did not meet with complete success, but brought him closer to his goal - to grow as fine a cultured pearl in American waters as could be grown anywhere else in the world. Several pilot farms were opened along the waters of Benton County, using the latest in technology and past-learned lessons. Over time, all of the existing experimental farms have been closed and consolidated into one. This is mainly due to the more-productive marine environment for the mollusks. This one farm - the only one in America - is located at Birdsong Resort, Marina and Lakeside Campground, near Camden, TN. They are now able to culture pearls of varied shapes, colors and sizes for commercial use.

John Latendresse passed away in 2000, leaving his legacy to his family to carry on. His wife, Chessie, daughters, Gina and Renee’, and son, J.K, continue the operation of American Pearl in Nashville. The business ships pearls and finished jewelry all over the world. Freshwater pearl jewelry is on display and may be purchased at Birdsong Resort, Marina and Lakeside Campground near Camden, or on-line at www.TennesseeRiverPearls.com or www.BirdsongResort.com.

Birdsong also hosts a tour about the production of the freshwater pearl in America - rightfully named “A Pearl Of A Tour.” Bob Keast, chief tour guide, generally offers the tourists a 3-5 hour trek which includes a visit to the actual pearl farm, independent divers, Folklife Museum, and a catered Bar-Be-Que luncheon at Birdsong’s lake-view pavilion. This tour operates May through November and requires reservations. The pearl farm and pearl jewelry showroom are open every day except for Thanksgiving, New Years and Christmas.

This attraction is among the top twenty most-visited attractions according to reports published by the State of Department of Tennessee Tourist. For more information, call 731-584-7880, 800-225-7469 or visit the website at www.TennesseeRiverPearls.com or www.BirdsongResort.com.