Cooley Covered Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Cooley Covered Bridge
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1970 photo
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Pittsford, Vermont |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1849 |
| Architect | Powers, Nicholas M. |
| Architectural style | Town lattice truss |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000251 |
| Added to NRHP | January 24, 1974 |
The Cooley Covered Bridge is a really cool old bridge in Pittsford, Vermont. It's called a "covered bridge" because it has a roof and walls, just like a house! This special bridge carries Elm Street across Furnace Brook. It was built way back in 1849. What makes it extra special is that it was built by a famous bridge builder named Nicholas M. Powers, who grew up nearby. This bridge is one of only four covered bridges from the 1800s still standing in Pittsford. Because it's so important, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
Contents
What Makes the Cooley Covered Bridge Special?
The Cooley Covered Bridge is located about 1 mile (1.6 km) south of the main village of Pittsford. It helps Elm Street cross over Furnace Brook, which flows towards Otter Creek.
How Was the Bridge Built?
This bridge uses a special design called a Town lattice truss. Imagine a giant crisscross pattern made of strong wooden beams. This pattern helps the bridge be very strong and stable. The main part of the bridge is about 50.5 feet (15.4 meters) long. But the whole structure, including the parts that stick out at the ends, is about 66 feet (20 meters) long.
The bridge is about 18.5 feet (5.6 meters) wide, but the road inside is about 15 feet (4.6 meters) wide. This means it's wide enough for one lane of traffic.
What Does It Look Like?
The bridge originally sat on strong stone supports called abutments. These supports have either been rebuilt or covered with concrete over the years. The roof of the bridge is made of slate, which is a very durable type of rock.
The sides of the bridge are covered with vertical wooden boards. These boards wrap around the ends of the bridge and even a little bit inside. This covering helps protect the wooden parts of the bridge from rain, snow, and sun, making it last much longer. Some parts of the wooden crisscross pattern have been made even stronger by adding extra wood or iron braces underneath.
Who Built This Bridge?
The Cooley Covered Bridge was built in 1849 by Nicholas M. Powers. He was born on a farm not too far from where the bridge stands today. Nicholas M. Powers is known as one of Vermont's most famous builders of covered bridges. This bridge is one of only a few bridges that we know for sure he built or supervised. It's also one of just four covered bridges still standing in the town of Pittsford.
