熊耳河橋,原為單(dan)孔石橋,清(qing)乾隆三(san)年(1738)知州張鉞重修,橋長34米、寬 6.83米,橋孔為一伏(fu)一券(quan)式,用大方石排列砌(qi)造(zao)。
四(si)年,河(he)水(shui)暴漲(zhang),橋被沖塌。十(shi)年,知州張鉞為解除水(shui)患率郡人重(zhong)修,并增石(shi)券1孔,《重(zhong)修熊耳河(he)橋碑記(ji)》有較(jiao)詳記(ji)述。券上雕有飛禽、花草(cao)、海(hai)石(shi)榴、鳳鳥等(deng),正(zheng)中券頂刻1獸頭(tou),怒目大嘴,象征(zheng)鎮服水(shui)患。伏石(shi)左(zuo)右(you)兩角各刻 1龍(long),龍(long)頭(tou)向上,四(si)肢伸開,造(zao)型(xing)精美(mei)。從雕刻手法(fa)和生物形態來看,當創建于(yu)宋元之際。橋券凈跨度為4.72米,矢高2.4米,整個(ge)券基本(ben)上呈半圓相(xiang)等(deng)。與宋代法(fa)式相(xiang)吻合,現仍為車輛(liang)通行(xing)要道(dao)。
按照《鄭州(zhou)(zhou)文(wen)物(wu)志(zhi)》的(de)(de)記載,在鄭州(zhou)(zhou)市區,現存年(nian)代(dai)較久(jiu)遠的(de)(de)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)是(shi)位(wei)于管(guan)城區南(nan)(nan)關(guan)(guan)大(da)街上的(de)(de)熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)耳(er)河(he)(he)(he)(he)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)。據說(shuo)“熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)耳(er)河(he)(he)(he)(he)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)”原來(lai)(lai)叫(jiao)(jiao)(jiao)“熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)兒(er)(er)(er)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)”。關(guan)(guan)于熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)兒(er)(er)(er)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)的(de)(de)來(lai)(lai)歷,民間是(shi)這樣傳(chuan)說(shuo)的(de)(de):明朝末年(nian),在鄭州(zhou)(zhou)的(de)(de)石柱村(cun)(今天(tian)(tian)的(de)(de)新圃東(dong)街),住著(zhu)兄(xiong)弟(di)(di)(di)兩人(ren),哥哥叫(jiao)(jiao)(jiao)熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)大(da),弟(di)(di)(di)弟(di)(di)(di)叫(jiao)(jiao)(jiao)熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)二(er)。因為父母雙亡,家(jia)貧無以(yi)(yi)為生(sheng),哥哥就(jiu)(jiu)把弟(di)(di)(di)弟(di)(di)(di)送到鄭州(zhou)(zhou)城里南(nan)(nan)門內大(da)戶張谷囤(dun)家(jia)里當(dang)童(tong)仆。張大(da)戶頗有(you)錢(qian)(qian)(qian)財,花錢(qian)(qian)(qian)捐了(le)個(ge)監生(sheng),人(ren)稱張監生(sheng)。熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)二(er)眉清目秀,干活(huo)勤快。張監生(sheng)很喜歡熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)二(er),就(jiu)(jiu)給熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)二(er)改名叫(jiao)(jiao)(jiao)熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)兒(er)(er)(er),并提拔他當(dang)上了(le)管(guan)家(jia)。熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)兒(er)(er)(er)生(sheng)活(huo)儉樸(pu),所以(yi)(yi)天(tian)(tian)長日久(jiu),就(jiu)(jiu)積(ji)攢(zan)了(le)些銀錢(qian)(qian)(qian)。當(dang)時南(nan)(nan)關(guan)(guan)有(you)條小河(he)(he)(he)(he),每到秋季(ji)河(he)(he)(he)(he)水都(dou)泛濫(lan)成(cheng)災(zai)。河(he)(he)(he)(he)上面(mian)又(you)沒(mei)有(you)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),來(lai)(lai)往行人(ren)趟水過(guo)河(he)(he)(he)(he)都(dou)很不(bu)方便。熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)兒(er)(er)(er)就(jiu)(jiu)把積(ji)攢(zan)下來(lai)(lai)的(de)(de)錢(qian)(qian)(qian)全部拿(na)出來(lai)(lai),帶領群眾疏通河(he)(he)(he)(he)道,又(you)修建了(le)一(yi)(yi)座(zuo)小橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)。為了(le)感恩,老百姓就(jiu)(jiu)給了(le)熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)兒(er)(er)(er)這座(zuo)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)的(de)(de)“冠名權”。后來(lai)(lai)河(he)(he)(he)(he)以(yi)(yi)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)名,就(jiu)(jiu)連橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)下的(de)(de)小河(he)(he)(he)(he)也叫(jiao)(jiao)(jiao)熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)兒(er)(er)(er)河(he)(he)(he)(he)了(le)。再后來(lai)(lai)時間一(yi)(yi)長,以(yi)(yi)訛傳(chuan)訛,“熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)兒(er)(er)(er)”又(you)傳(chuan)成(cheng)了(le)“熊(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)(xiong)耳(er)” 。