Eric Picard

Crystal Village Tales

Welcome to the true stories behind Crystal Village. While the mountain sanctuary at the heart of Legacy of the Bitterroots emerged from imagination, it stands firmly planted in the genuine history of the American West—surrounded by real places, historical figures, and documented events that shaped the region.

For readers who’ve walked the streets of Crystal Village and wondered where fiction ends and fact begins, this collection of research materials illuminates the authentic foundations of the novel. From Wyatt Earp’s actual White Elephant Saloon in Eagle City to the devastating Great Fire of 1910, from the Irish Brigade’s Civil War exploits to John Roebling’s dreams of utopian communities, these links reveal the historical bedrock beneath the supernatural elements of the tale.

I’ve gathered more than 100 sources—newspaper archives, historical documents, first-person accounts, and scholarly works that helped bring authenticity to Crystal Village’s world. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a curious reader, or someone who knows these mountains as home, you’ll find fascinating glimpses into the real people and events that shaped this corner of Idaho and other characters from around the world.

As websites change over time, some links may eventually break. But as of this posting, each one offers a window into the actual history behind the story. I’ve also included a few surprises, including a deleted scene that reveals another layer of Crystal Village’s mysteries.

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Explore these resources to discover just how much truth lies beneath the fiction:

Where to Dig For Your Own Idaho Star Garnet
Silver City and Other Owyhee Treasures
How the Civil War shaped the West
Wildlife Sightings & Stellar Scenery Await Riders on Idaho’s Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes
Images of the West: Progress at a Price
A Family’s Perspective – “The Brutality of Sepsis will Haunt Us for the Rest of Our Lives”
Writing Insights Part Four: Publishing Your Book
Around the Horn: The Journal of a Voyage to San Francisco

If you haven’t figured it out, Sam’s story is based on Snow White. Loosely. It’s a resonant tale and it has evolved many times over the years.

DELETED SCENE

Finn McEnhill and Eoinn Seeley sat in the comfortable parlor of the Seeley’s home in Crystal Village. There was a radiator in the corner with a pot of water steaming away sitting on top. They sat in comfortable leather armchairs with a chess table between them.  In the background Scott Joplin’s Maple Leaf Rag quietly played as the two men contemplated the board.

Finn made a move, “Check.”

Eoinn carefully surveyed the board, and moved his Queen.  Finn immediately moved a piece and quietly said, “Mate.”

Eoinn capitulated and tipped over his King.

The two men stretched their backs. Eoinn stood and walked over to a sleek art deco box on the counter, and made an adjustment.  Buddy Holly’s “That’ll be the day” began to play.  Just then the window of the parlor began to shake slightly. The two men met each other’s eyes, and began walking to the front door.

They walked down the front stoop and onto the street toward the square in front of the mining company offices.

They heard it before they saw it—a rhythmic, thunderous thumping that shook the windows of the buildings and caused birds to fly up out of the trees. They both continued walking towards the square as the sound grew louder, reverberating through the narrow streets until a sleek machine appeared over the rooftops, hovering above the village. Its frame gleamed like a polished metal insect, suspended on whirling blades, and its cockpit, a transparent bubble of glass, revealed four people seated calmly inside.

The helicopter descended slowly, almost delicately, onto the Belgian blocks of the square at the end of Broadway, outside the Mining Company offices. Powerful gusts from its rotors kicked up a storm of dust and grit that spiraled outward.

Eoinn waved to the pilot, who dropped off three passengers, each carrying bags and supplies. The helicopter took off, the pilot waving as he flew away. The three visitors walked forward and Eoinn said, “Welcome to Crystal Village!”