It's rare when a street truly reflects its legendary namesake. Bill Robertson, director of L.A.'s Bureau of Street Services, says one street does.

Bill Robertson: "Mulholland Drive, of course, after the famous engineer William Mulholland."

Mulholland was born in Ireland, fought the Apache in Arizona, and then got a job as a ditch-cleaner for an L.A. water company. In eight years, the self-educated engineer was the water company's boss. He convinced city leaders that bringing water south from the far-away Owens Valley was vital to agriculture in the San Fernando Valley.

Robertson says, "And it's funny: Mulholland Boulevard still has dirt sections. There's still dirt when you get out in the far West Valley. There's folks out there that never want that street paved. It's just part of history."

But the Valley's rural roots became mostly that: history. William Mulholland's water, meant to grow crops, instead helped a population boom take root in the San Fernando Valley.

(Airdate for this story: 12/21/08)