First to Serve (book) by Ronald J. Guilmette - presented by the Civil War Roundtable of New Hampshire

The “First to Serve” is a historical work covering the first ten years of the nations oldest state police agency from 1865 to 1875.

Alcohol was the genesis for the first state police force and the primary reason why several other New England states looked to establish state police forces during the second half of the nineteenth century. Journey back in time as Ron Guilmette chronicles the lives and Civil War service of these first state police officers. The First To Serve describes the first decade of the Massachusetts State Police and the hardships and political turmoil the first constables faced enforcing the first alcohol prohibition in the nation for three dollars a day.

Ronald J. Guilmette retired in 1999 as a Lieutenant Colonel on the Massachusetts State Police after thirty-one years of service. Ron is the past president of the Massachusetts State Police Museum and Learning Center and continues to serve on the board of directors at the state police museum in Grafton, Massachusetts. He is the author of the award-winning coffee table book The Islands of Winnipesaukee and also produced and edited the Massachusetts State Police 150th Anniversary Book.

Ron will sell and sign books after his talk.