熊耳(er)河橋(qiao)(qiao),原為單孔石(shi)橋(qiao)(qiao),清乾隆(long)三年(1738)知州張鉞重修,橋(qiao)(qiao)長(chang)34米、寬 6.83米,橋(qiao)(qiao)孔為一伏一券式,用大方石(shi)排列砌造。
四(si)年,河(he)水暴(bao)漲,橋被沖塌(ta)。十年,知(zhi)州(zhou)張鉞為(wei)解(jie)除水患(huan)率郡人重修,并增石(shi)券(quan)1孔,《重修熊(xiong)耳河(he)橋碑記(ji)(ji)》有(you)較詳記(ji)(ji)述。券(quan)上(shang)雕(diao)有(you)飛(fei)禽(qin)、花(hua)草、海石(shi)榴、鳳鳥等,正(zheng)中(zhong)券(quan)頂刻(ke)(ke)1獸頭,怒目(mu)大嘴(zui),象征鎮(zhen)服水患(huan)。伏石(shi)左右兩(liang)角各刻(ke)(ke) 1龍,龍頭向上(shang),四(si)肢伸開,造型(xing)精美。從雕(diao)刻(ke)(ke)手法(fa)和生物形態(tai)來看,當創建于宋元(yuan)之際。橋券(quan)凈跨(kua)度為(wei)4.72米(mi),矢(shi)高2.4米(mi),整個券(quan)基本上(shang)呈半圓(yuan)相等。與宋代法(fa)式相吻合,現仍為(wei)車輛通(tong)行要道(dao)。
按照《鄭(zheng)(zheng)州文物(wu)志》的(de)(de)記(ji)載,在鄭(zheng)(zheng)州市區,現存年代較(jiao)久(jiu)遠的(de)(de)橋(qiao)是位于(yu)管城區南(nan)關(guan)大(da)街(jie)上的(de)(de)熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)耳河(he)(he)橋(qiao)。據說(shuo)“熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)耳河(he)(he)橋(qiao)”原(yuan)來(lai)叫(jiao)“熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)兒(er)橋(qiao)”。關(guan)于(yu)熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)兒(er)橋(qiao)的(de)(de)來(lai)歷(li),民間(jian)是這(zhe)樣傳(chuan)說(shuo)的(de)(de):明(ming)朝末年,在鄭(zheng)(zheng)州的(de)(de)石柱村(今(jin)天(tian)的(de)(de)新圃東街(jie)),住(zhu)著兄弟(di)(di)兩人,哥哥叫(jiao)熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)大(da),弟(di)(di)弟(di)(di)叫(jiao)熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)二(er)(er)。因(yin)為父(fu)母雙(shuang)亡(wang),家(jia)貧無以(yi)為生,哥哥就(jiu)把弟(di)(di)弟(di)(di)送(song)到鄭(zheng)(zheng)州城里南(nan)門內大(da)戶(hu)(hu)張(zhang)谷囤家(jia)里當童仆(pu)。張(zhang)大(da)戶(hu)(hu)頗(po)有錢(qian)財,花錢(qian)捐了(le)個監生,人稱張(zhang)監生。熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)二(er)(er)眉清目秀(xiu),干活(huo)勤(qin)快。張(zhang)監生很(hen)(hen)喜歡(huan)熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)二(er)(er),就(jiu)給熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)二(er)(er)改名叫(jiao)熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)兒(er),并提拔(ba)他當上了(le)管家(jia)。熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)兒(er)生活(huo)儉(jian)樸,所以(yi)天(tian)長(chang)(chang)日久(jiu),就(jiu)積(ji)攢(zan)了(le)些銀錢(qian)。當時南(nan)關(guan)有條小(xiao)(xiao)河(he)(he),每到秋季河(he)(he)水都泛(fan)濫成災。河(he)(he)上面又沒有橋(qiao),來(lai)往(wang)行人趟水過河(he)(he)都很(hen)(hen)不方便(bian)。熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)兒(er)就(jiu)把積(ji)攢(zan)下來(lai)的(de)(de)錢(qian)全(quan)部拿出來(lai),帶領群眾(zhong)疏通河(he)(he)道(dao),又修建了(le)一(yi)座(zuo)(zuo)小(xiao)(xiao)橋(qiao)。為了(le)感恩,老百姓(xing)就(jiu)給了(le)熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)兒(er)這(zhe)座(zuo)(zuo)橋(qiao)的(de)(de)“冠名權”。后來(lai)河(he)(he)以(yi)橋(qiao)名,就(jiu)連橋(qiao)下的(de)(de)小(xiao)(xiao)河(he)(he)也叫(jiao)熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)兒(er)河(he)(he)了(le)。再后來(lai)時間(jian)一(yi)長(chang)(chang),以(yi)訛傳(chuan)訛,“熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)兒(er)”又傳(chuan)成了(le)“熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)耳” 。