There’s this hook-like thing that’s attached to the underside of the roof of my house. I doubt it was for hanging a plant or anything since it’s pretty high up, and it seems too large to just be for a hanging plant. It’s also got this weird honeycomb like texture on the ends. For the life of me I can’t figure out what it would’ve been used for.

I believe the hook is as old as the house, which was built around ~1910. It is also in the mid-Atlantic region, if that helps.

Some of the answers were:

1. Might be to hang plants.
2. It’s in a difficult to get to spot on the second floor, rather than on the front porch. Also it’s really large for plant hooks.
3. Insulator/electrical collector & historian of over a decade here. Definitely, without a doubt, a dual insulator bracket. One side was likely for phone, and the other a service line for the home’s electric. These types of bracket are common enough, and typically found in industrial applications. Pretty neat to see one on a home! You can go to eBay and purchase a couple Hemingray 42 insulators and screw them onto your bracket. They’ll look pretty! Alternatively, if you don’t want to keep it, you can sell it on eBay and likely get $20-40 out of it.
4. My initial thought went immediately to an electrical, telephony, or some sort of cable hanger in general. Then I thought plant hanger like others have mentioned. However, I can’t say that I’ve ever seen one one a house before either!
5. I do respect that this is your niche and had the opportunity to slam dunk the answeR
6. Insulator collecting and electricity history have been a vast hobby of mine that came about from being a train enthusiast. It’s crazy the things that can flourish from one hobby.
7. Lived in a thrice remodeled suburban house for a bit and they had janky shit like this all over their house, nice to know why!
8. Old Dutch houses often have a hook to attach a pulley and rope to bring items to the upper floors. Can it be used like that?
9. This was my first thought, too – but I would’ve expected maybe a bigger window nearby. Idk. Maybe I’m wrong. ‍♀️
10. I was on the same line. But then, looking at the area around the door, it might have been a larger opening before the window was installed. The paint around the widow looks a little off, to me, in one of the pictures. And all presumably before the awning was installed.
11. It’s from the old electrical. My mom’s house had that until it was updated in the 1970’s.

    Hopefully your house inspector double checked to ensure that there’s no old wiring still being used inside. That stuff was crazy dangerous.

12. Even into the seventies they were still figuring it out. My house was built with no ground and had to be fit with gfci outlets. It’s insane anyone lived through the “we’re still kinda figuring this out” phase.
13. So true. We had push button things instead of light switches. And then there were fuses and people would put pennies in them if they didn’t have the right size.

    And tvs were dangerous too. A boy in my sister’s class was killed when the picture tube exploded.

14. Had a friend in mid school that had a crt monitor explode and burn off 90% of his face. Left him blind.
15. I inherited a “working” singer sewing machine table from the 20s last year. Guy said it worked. Which it did. But it had cloth wrapped wiring. I don’t trust that shit when it’s that old and brittle.

    I stuck a multimeter on it and the body of the sewing machine had 114 volts running through it.

    No idea how long it had been like that but it’s a wonder nobody fucking died.

16. It is in all likelihood a hook for either telegraph lines or electric lines (back when they were above ground on poles). The honeycomb ends were used to hold insulating blocks, so the lines don’t ground-out.
17. It’s probably for electrical wiring but many houses in the Netherlands have hooks above windows.
18. You see hooks on old (16-17th century) harbour lofts in europe: ropes are mounted to haul goods up to the loft for storage and processing.
19. Home inspector in an area with a lot of old homes… This is a bracket they used to hang old service wires. One side would have been electrical and the other telephone. There are glass insulators that go on the metal which have broken off or more likely were removed and kept/sold by the worker who removed the old electrical line.

    Please note you should have your home checked for old knob and tube wiring. If your home has these brackets then the original electrical wiring was a style called knob and tube, which was the best they could do when they were first wiring homes but it was a risky system brand new and any knob and tube wiring is around a century old at this point. If it is still there it needs to be removed by a professional and replaced with modern wiring.

20. Looks like a ladder / fire escape mount hook. Second floor up and offset from window. Rope ladder connected from open window and climb down – could have been housing code back when built (?) My $0.02 anyways (and it’s likely not worth that much )
21. What runs in that conduit looking pipe next to the down pipe in the last photo? Is that electrical? That make me think that hook held power lines.
22. I’m making a guess but perhaps the homeowner has placed it there as a ladder hook or other safety-related tie-on.
23. Does the first picture show openings on the ribbed ends? If so, it could be some sort of vent, like maybe the exhaust from a fan (bathroom), or possibly from a dryer or water heater, or even some sort of attic vent.

    If those aren’t openings, if there are too of them on the south wall, it could be for hanging a light-colored sheet or tarp in the summer to keep the sun off the southern wall, making it a bit cooler in the house.

24. 100% this is meant for plants. My grandparents had several some on the porch some in front of windows on the second floor. Alot of the ford homes have them as well.

What do you think? Let us know in the comment!

Have you ever found yourself gazing up at the overhang of your house, only to notice a mysterious hook dangling from the eaves, its purpose shrouded in uncertainty? You’re not alone. Many homeowners have encountered these perplexing fixtures and found themselves scratching their heads in puzzlement. But fear not, for we are here to unravel the mystery and shed light on the enigmatic hook that hangs beneath your house’s overhang.

Chapter 1: The Curious Discovery

It all begins with a casual glance upwards, perhaps while admiring your home’s architecture or tending to outdoor chores. Suddenly, your eyes land on it—a solitary hook protruding from the underside of the overhang, seemingly suspended in midair. Questions swirl in your mind: What is it for? Why is it there? And most importantly, what purpose does it serve?

Chapter 2: The Many Faces of the Hook

As you ponder the possibilities, it becomes apparent that the hook under your house’s overhang could have a multitude of purposes, depending on its design and placement. One common explanation is that it serves as a mounting point for outdoor decorations, such as hanging plants, wind chimes, or seasonal ornaments. In this capacity, the hook adds a touch of charm and personality to your home’s exterior, allowing you to showcase your decorative flair.

Another possibility is that the hook is intended for practical use, such as hanging outdoor lighting fixtures or extension cords. By providing a convenient attachment point, the hook helps to keep cords and wires neatly organized and out of the way, while also enhancing the functionality of your outdoor space.

Chapter 3: Uncovering the Truth

To unravel the mystery of the hook under your house’s overhang, it may be helpful to consult with a knowledgeable professional, such as a contractor, handyman, or home inspector. They can offer valuable insight into the purpose of the hook and help determine whether it was installed for decorative or practical reasons.

In some cases, the presence of the hook may be a vestige of previous renovations or construction projects, with its original purpose lost to the mists of time. Alternatively, it may have been installed with a specific function in mind, only to be forgotten or overlooked by subsequent homeowners.

Chapter 4: Embracing the Unknown

Ultimately, the true purpose of the hook under your house’s overhang may remain a mystery, and that’s okay. Sometimes, the beauty lies in the unknown, leaving room for imagination and speculation to flourish. Whether it serves as a decorative accent, a practical accessory, or simply a remnant of the past, the hook adds an element of intrigue to your home’s exterior, inviting curiosity and conversation.

So the next time you find yourself pondering the purpose of that mysterious hook, embrace the mystery and revel in the uncertainty. After all, life is full of surprises, and sometimes, it’s the little mysteries that make it all the more interesting.