Hey, it's Jesse Dukes, Curious City Audio Producer. Those of us lucky enough to be able to work from home

have been doing a lot of that during the COVID pandemic. And if you're like me, maybe that's led you to get to know your home a little better.

My house is over a century old and spending so much time at home, I've discovered hidden nooks and crannies and defunct plumbing

fixtures, old walls now covered up, all signs that different people have adapted the building

to suit their needs in different eras. And that's what this Curious City episode is all about.

We are revisiting a story from 2017 when Jen Mason Garp sent out to answer questions

about odd details in people's living space. And later, we'll hear from a drama teacher

dealing with the challenges and occasional joys of teaching remotely. It's so typical

2020 where it's like, what's that? You have plans? What's that? You want aspirations to do something? Here's this pandemic.

But first, here's Jen Mason Garb, who was at the time director of interpretation and research at the Chicago Architecture Center.

If you've ever lived in a historic apartment building, you've probably discovered a quirky feature clearly left over from another era.

A mystery closet that contains a window, adjacent doors that just don't seem to go anywhere.

But have you ever wondered about what those odd mystery spaces can tell us about who lived there

before you?

And what was life like at the time?

Our question askers have been wondering the same thing.

I'm Biz. I'm a artist.

So my name is Tyler, and I'm an illustrator.

We met at art school.

Yeah.

Biz Knapp and Tyler Nichol live in a 1927, eight-story brick apartment building in East Rogers Park.

Yep, this is us.

...