"Hollow" pillar. What is it?

[Tim]

I recently purchased a 13 year old kit built log home. I was wanting to take out an interior partition wall, so I started tearing away the pine panelling and noticed that there is some sort of hollow "pillar" at the end of the partition wall that is attached to the exterior solid log wall that it intersects with. The pillar is essentially two 2x6s with a 2x4 in between them so that the pillar is "hollow". It's attached to the solid log exterior wall with lag bolts.

If this pillar is for structural support for the wall, why wouldn't a solid piece of lumber be nailed to the wall instead of something hollow that is lag bolted? Does it have the function of keeping the wall from buckling outward? I'm hoping not since I was wanting to put a window where this pillar is.

Thanks for any info!

[rckclmbr428]

Could be structural or could be a chase for a bunch of wiring to be running in. Pictures would help.

[donjuedo]

Like this?

http://extremehowto.com/wp-content/uploads/2004/04/331200435021_corn8.jpg

Or this?

https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSC7oPo3KH86U7t8pnd85pA2_Q9HPixG 6aXmbJmmaYnESkIKj01

Other?

[loghousenut]

I suspect it is a keyway to allow the log wall to settle and yet keep the stick wall in place. Photos!