Mike, I think I am going to go with your idea. There is no wood behind the plaster except for the wooden studs. The plaster seems to be embedded with 14 gauge metal cables running vertically from floor to ceiling and 1/4" vertical metal belts running from end to end. The walls are damn sturdy so I highly doubt the whole thing will come down if I cut out a small section. The place originally came with one of the walls cut out and made into a silly looking bookshelf. I ripped out the shelves and noticed the cut up cables and belts in the plaster. Nothing a good pair of wire cutters couldn't handle. Shouldn't be too hard to remove a small section install the wood and cover with drywall.

Thanks for all the help. I feel confident that all will end well.......I hope! :o)