I have no idea what this mystery box is, above the fridge:
Strangeness:
1) See the steroidal vertical steel bar (holes drilled in it) on the left side of the opening? There's one on the right side as well (not shown). They go up through the ceiling and are attached to rafters! Like they put something seriously heavy in this box, or hung something below it.
2) The box has a false "ceiling", above which may be the original attic access. Cellulose insulation fell through the opening into the false ceiling of this box when they did the attic sometime in the last 20 years.
Mysterious! Any ideas?
Regardless, it's coming out, obviously. And I'll be opening up the wall behind it into the kitchen one of these years. Open concept, baby!