Indians camped along Crab Creek in the Stratford area to gather roots and other food, and the main Indian trail crossed the creek there before branching, with one route going past Pinto Dam. In 1879, Lt. Symons passed through while laying out a military wagon road from Ft. Walla Walla to Camp Chelan. In 1888, the old wagon road from Waterville to Ritzville came past the area. A railroad was built in 1892, and early apple orchards were irrigated from Brook Lake in the late 1890’s, with the pumphouse still standing. Stratford was platted in 1903, and local pioneers drained Crab Lake in 1909 for farming purposes.