When dam construction began the Columbia River was split only by Bradford Island. As the dam went in the Spillway Dam was built between the Washington shore and the north side of Bradford Island; the powerhouse was built between the south side of Bradford Island and the north side of a newly created island named "Robins Island"; and the locks were built on the south side of Robins Island and the Oregon shore.

In 1982 a second powerhouse, called the "North Powerhouse", was built. The Columbia River was re-routed and Cascade Island was created, with the North Powerhouse being built between the north side of Cascade Island and the Washington shore. The Spillway Dam was now anchored on the south shore of Cascade Island.

• Bradford Island ...
• Robins Island ...
• Cascade Island ...
• The Bradford Brothers ...

"... By 1852 a considerable community had developed on the north side of the Columbia River, just a mile or so west of what is now the town of Stevenson. Its existence came about largely because of its proximity to the upper end of unnavigable water at the Cascades rapids. At this point, all travel continued by portage for some four miles around the Cascades on the north (Washington) side of the river, either by a tramway that had been recently constructed or, more commonly, by wagon road. According to Origen Thomson, in 1852 the community consisted "of three houses, in which are two stores and one dwelling; one of the houses is two stories high. In the upper story is a boarding house, and below a store." Daniel and Putnam Bradford (brothers) owned the general store. The mill where Willis obtained lumber for his brother's coffin, also owned by the Bradfords, stood a short distance down the wagon road from the graveyard. None of these structures exists today. ..." [Washington State Historical Society website, 2006]

In 1856 during the Indian uprising the townfolks of Cascades took shelter in the Bradford's store.

"... The Indians attacked on the morning of March 26th, but failed to trap the two steamers Mary and Wasco above the rapids. However, the attackers managed to wound several of the crew and to kill other settlers in the area. Some settlers fled to the safety of a blockhouse near Fort Rains, on the Middle Cascades. Others took shelter in a sturdy, two-story store at the Upper Cascades, owned by brothers Daniel and Putnam F. Bradford. Settlers below the landing fled downriver in boats. By late in the day, some 40 men, women, and children were huddled in the Bradford store. As they watched, the Indians burned a sawmill and lumberyard owned by the Bradfords, along with several houses and a warehouse under construction. The Indians threw firebrands onto the roof of the store in an effort to burn it as well, but the refuges managed to douse the flames. ..." ["historylink.org" website, 2006, written by David Wilma]

The skirmish was over upon the arrival of Lieutenant Phil Sheridan and Lieutenant-Colonel Steptoe and the troups.

The Bradfords were also steamboat operators on the Columbia River and operated the portage road from the Lower Cascades on Hamilton Island to the Upper Cascades near Ashes Lake. In History Of The Pacific Northwest Oregon and Washington, published in 1889:

"... Daniel F. Bradford, and Putnam his brother, late in the fall of 1855, commenced the construction of a tramway between the Upper and Lower Cascades, five miles in length, which was well-nigh completed in the early spring of 1856. ..."

The 1860 Washington Territory cadastral survey map (tax survey) for T2N R7E, shows "Bradford's Railroad" which followed the Washington shoreline. It's eastern end was at the location of today's Ashes Lake (just upstream of "U.S. Garrison", known today as Fort Lugenbeel) and the western end was just upstream of the location of today's Fort Rains Fort Rains was not shown on map.

The 1850 Federal Census for the Clark County, Oregon Territory (today parts of Clark County and Cowlitz County) listed a "D. Bradford, age 30, from New York", and a "P. Bradford, age 25, from New York", plus a soldier "Wm. S. Bradford, age 36, from New Hampshire. The 1860 Federal Census for Skamania County listed Danl. F. Bradford, age 42, occupation: "Merchant", from Massachusetts, Chloe Bradford, age 35, from Massachusetts, A.G. Bradford, age 36, occupation: "Merchant", from Massachusetts, B.F. Bradford, age 33, occupation: "Merchant", from Massachusetts, Hellen Bradford, age 25, from Illinois, and P.F. Bradford, age 4, from Oregon. There was also a listing for James Bradford, age 24, from New York, who was a Private at the "Garrison". The 1870 Federal Census for Skamania County listed no Bradfords.

Bureau of Land Management Records show a Donation Land Claim (DLC) of 639.781 acres on February 5, 1862, for Daniel F. and Chloe H. Bradford, in T2N R7E, Skamania County.