Built in 1849, it is one of a small number of bridges in the state that has a well-documented association with the 19th-century master bridgewright Nicholas M. Powers, who grew up nearby.

It is one of four surviving 19th-century covered bridges in the town, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

[1] The Cooley Covered Bridge is located about 1 mile (1.6 km) south of the village of Pittsford, carrying Elm Street across Furnace Brook, which at that point flows northwest toward Otter Creek.

The bridge originally rested on stone abutments, which have either been rebuilt or faced in concrete.

Portions of the trusses have been reinforced by doubling the timbers, and some iron bracing has been added to the bridge's underside.