My first thought is wondering if an ironing board could have somehow been attached to it, but I'm not sure how exactly that'd work, and I can't find any photos that look like they'd match that set-up.

That’s a good thought! Thanks for your comment!

I think it was a homeowner's creative solution for something very specific and you'll only figure it out once you find her and ask her. :)

It’s not clear that it was used as a functional bracket with a purpose. I don’t know what it would’ve been used for, but it’s a poorly installed piece of cheap wood, so it might’ve been put in temporarily to align something, and they forgot to remove it afterwards.

"Hey, Jennie?"

"Yes, Jim?"

"Now that we've put the house on the market, how about you let me put in a conversation piece? Y'know, hidden and all? Something to get the new owners to scratch their noodle?"

"Well, sure, but what did you have in mind, honey?"

And thus a story was born....