When my wife and I decided to remodel a 1965 home for my mother, we expected the usual mix of outdated wiring, questionable DIY fixes, and the occasional obsolete building material. What we didn’t expect was how quickly the house would start revealing its secrets—starting with one innocent hole in the wall.
We had planned to open up the 16-foot wall between the kitchen and the living room to brighten the space and create a more open layout. Like many remodelers, I chose a random spot to cut a small inspection opening. The idea was simple: look for studs, peek at the structure, check for obstacles, and proceed with a full demo.
Instead, the wall greeted us with surprises.
A Structural Puzzle
Behind the plaster was a framing situation that didn’t quite match modern conventions. The stud spacing was irregular, and some members looked like they might have been modified over time—possibly to reroute utilities or accommodate older renovations. Houses from the 1960s often have sturdy bones, but it was clear this wall had been “creatively” adjusted over the decades. Opening the room was still possible, but the project had officially moved from simple to interesting.
The Hidden Junction Box
Then came surprise number two.
Tucked neatly behind the plaster—completely buried and never meant to be found—was a fully active junction box. No cover. No access. Just wires entombed in wall material, waiting for someone brave (or unfortunate) enough to uncover them.
This kind of find is both common and concerning in older homes. While the original electrician may have done things correctly, someone later decided to plaster over the box instead of extending it or relocating it. It worked… until we opened the wall. Repairs, rerouting, and legal code compliance suddenly found their way onto the remodel checklist.
And Then… Something Else?
One more oddity showed up in the wall: an unexpected residue or substance that sparked the question—was that gun oil?
Who knows what previous owners stored, cleaned, or maintained in the home over the years. Older houses have a way of keeping memories in the strangest places. Whatever it was, it added one more layer of mystery to the project.
Remodeling: Expect the Unexpected
What started as a straightforward job quickly turned into an adventure through the history of the home. A hidden junction box, unusual framing, and unexplained traces of past occupants all reminded us of a universal truth in remodeling older houses:
Every wall has a story, and you rarely know it until you open it.
In the end, these surprises didn’t stop the renovation—they just made it more memorable. And for my mother, the finished space will be worth every unexpected discovery.
