A hundred years ago, the San Fernando Valley was covered by farms – not freeways. But that farming legacy is remembered in one Valley street sign – there's a Moorpark Street in North Hollywood. Bill Robertson says, "It's actually named after an English variety of apricots."

Robertson is director of L.A.'s Bureau of Street Services.

"And, of course, apricots is one of the main crops in early North Hollywood. And Moorpark got its name in 1917. It was originally Second Street."

The Moorpark resembles a small yellow peach – good for drying, but lousy for canned apricots. Its formal name is Prunus Armeniaca, which is a little bit long for a North Hollywood street sign.

(Airdate: 1/31/2009)