熊耳河橋,原(yuan)為單(dan)孔石橋,清乾(qian)隆(long)三年(nian)(1738)知州(zhou)張鉞重修,橋長34米、寬(kuan) 6.83米,橋孔為一伏一券式,用大方石排列砌(qi)造。
四(si)年(nian),河水暴漲,橋被(bei)沖塌(ta)。十年(nian),知州張鉞為解除(chu)水患(huan)率郡(jun)人重修,并增石券(quan)1孔,《重修熊耳河橋碑記》有較詳記述。券(quan)上(shang)雕有飛禽、花草、海石榴、鳳鳥等,正(zheng)中券(quan)頂刻(ke)1獸頭(tou),怒目(mu)大嘴,象征鎮服(fu)水患(huan)。伏石左右兩角各(ge)刻(ke) 1龍,龍頭(tou)向上(shang),四(si)肢伸開,造型精美。從雕刻(ke)手法和生物形態來看,當創建于宋元之際。橋券(quan)凈(jing)跨(kua)度為4.72米,矢高(gao)2.4米,整(zheng)個券(quan)基本上(shang)呈半圓(yuan)相等。與宋代法式相吻合(he),現仍為車輛通行要道(dao)。
按照(zhao)《鄭(zheng)州(zhou)(zhou)文物志》的(de)(de)記載,在鄭(zheng)州(zhou)(zhou)市區,現存年代較久遠的(de)(de)橋(qiao)(qiao)是位于管城區南(nan)關(guan)(guan)大(da)街上(shang)的(de)(de)熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)耳(er)河(he)橋(qiao)(qiao)。據說(shuo)“熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)耳(er)河(he)橋(qiao)(qiao)”原來(lai)叫(jiao)“熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)兒(er)橋(qiao)(qiao)”。關(guan)(guan)于熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)兒(er)橋(qiao)(qiao)的(de)(de)來(lai)歷,民間(jian)(jian)是這(zhe)樣(yang)傳說(shuo)的(de)(de):明(ming)朝末(mo)年,在鄭(zheng)州(zhou)(zhou)的(de)(de)石柱村(今天的(de)(de)新圃(pu)東街),住(zhu)著兄弟(di)兩(liang)人,哥(ge)哥(ge)叫(jiao)熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)大(da),弟(di)弟(di)叫(jiao)熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)二。因(yin)為父母雙亡,家(jia)貧無以為生(sheng)(sheng),哥(ge)哥(ge)就把(ba)弟(di)弟(di)送(song)到鄭(zheng)州(zhou)(zhou)城里(li)南(nan)門內大(da)戶張谷(gu)囤家(jia)里(li)當童仆。張大(da)戶頗有錢(qian)財(cai),花錢(qian)捐了(le)(le)個(ge)監(jian)生(sheng)(sheng),人稱張監(jian)生(sheng)(sheng)。熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)二眉清(qing)目秀,干(gan)活勤快。張監(jian)生(sheng)(sheng)很喜歡熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)二,就給熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)二改名叫(jiao)熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)兒(er),并提(ti)拔他當上(shang)了(le)(le)管家(jia)。熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)兒(er)生(sheng)(sheng)活儉樸,所以天長日久,就積攢了(le)(le)些銀錢(qian)。當時南(nan)關(guan)(guan)有條小(xiao)(xiao)河(he),每到秋季河(he)水都泛濫成(cheng)災。河(he)上(shang)面又(you)沒有橋(qiao)(qiao),來(lai)往行人趟水過河(he)都很不方便。熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)兒(er)就把(ba)積攢下來(lai)的(de)(de)錢(qian)全部拿出來(lai),帶領群眾疏(shu)通河(he)道(dao),又(you)修建(jian)了(le)(le)一座(zuo)小(xiao)(xiao)橋(qiao)(qiao)。為了(le)(le)感恩,老(lao)百(bai)姓就給了(le)(le)熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)兒(er)這(zhe)座(zuo)橋(qiao)(qiao)的(de)(de)“冠名權”。后來(lai)河(he)以橋(qiao)(qiao)名,就連橋(qiao)(qiao)下的(de)(de)小(xiao)(xiao)河(he)也叫(jiao)熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)兒(er)河(he)了(le)(le)。再后來(lai)時間(jian)(jian)一長,以訛傳訛,“熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)兒(er)”又(you)傳成(cheng)了(le)(le)“熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)耳(er)” 。