BELLE FOURCHE—The Tri-State Museum and Visitor Center has long had a legal exhibit, with interesting artifacts from area judges and lawyers. It is now expanded with a significant addition: the desk of Judge Robert Tschetter.
Tschetter practiced law in Belle Fourche from 1974 to 1981 when he was appointed to the bench. He served as 8th circuit court judge until his retirement in 1993.
The desk was moved from the Butte County Courthouse in 1995 to a storage facility when the courthouse began renovations. Clerk of Courts Alana Jensen offered it to the museum and Collections Archivist Jada Udager took possession for the Tri-State’s collections.
Judge Tschetter was noted for his wood-working skills and the fact that a canoe he had made was suspended from the ceiling of his chambers. He did not, however, make this unique “partner’s desk” which has a deep top and two sets of drawers, one at each end of the pedestal.
The solid oak desk was in good shape but needed to have the laminate top taken off to really set off its attractiveness. Udager used a heat gun provided by Lee Capp to remove the laminate and adhesive below it. The desk was then sanded with a sealer on top and finished with a coat of urethane.
The desk now holds a variety of legal artifacts, including a gavel that belonged to Judge Tschetter. His robe hangs on the wall behind the desk, and the desk now holds a variety of legal artifacts A photo of Judge Tschetter, smiling as if enjoying a good joke, sits on a back counter.
The Tri-State Museum and Visitor Center is located at 415 Fifth Avenue in Belle Fourche. Its summer hours are Monday-Saturday 9 to 5 and Sunday 1-4. Call 605-723-1200.
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