I looked around some more and I think the cable to nowhere used to go up to the kitchen. I notice a hole in the floor (below the kitchen) where the cable probably went at one time. The kitchen was rewired before I got the house. They also disconnected the gas stove and ran an electric circuit for an electric range at some point. During all of this, somehow this orphan was created. It was still hot, connected to a 15 amp breaker and just hanging up there on top of the HVAC duct work. As far as I can tell there is nothing connected to it since when I turn it off it doesn't effect anything else. That no one had noticed it all these years is pretty amazing. Two home inspections, and still this is what I find. I want my money back.
I'll probably put an extension box on the 4x4 one of these days. It's up above the dryer and I didn't have my ladder in the basement yesterday. No telling how long that has been like that either.
