History of the Monmouth County Cotillion

Shortly after the end of WWII in late l949 or l950, a young veteran and his wife, living on the outskirts of New York, decided to move to the Jersey shore area where his wife was raised. Red Bank, New Jersey, about l3 miles from Asbury Park, a small, busy town on the Shrewsbury River.

Leon and Florence G. Hayes were soon involved in the social and community betterment activities of Red Bank, one being the Red Bank YMCA Westside Branch of which I was the Executive Director. Leon was on the Board of Directors and Flo was a member of the Women’s Auxiliary.

Flo, a teacher and piano instructor, mentioned the cotillion to me one day and said that she was going to present the idea to the Women’s Auxiliary and what did I think. I thought that it was an excellent idea but would a group of mostly busy, hard-working, middle class women go for such a huge undertaking? And would the parents, some of whom were on welfare, be interested enough to do their part?

Flo would present it at the September meeting. I attended to oversee the reaction. The meeting was called to order and Flo couldn’t get a word in edgewise. The agenda was long and the discussions were lively and lengthy. Questions regarding major and minor concerns about the youth needs and activities were brought up and discussed, or put off for another meeting. Much was done and much was left for future meetings.

The meeting ended and Flo, except for saying thank you after being introduced and welcomed as a new member, wasn’t able to introduce her idea.

But, as she and a lady friend were leaving the meeting room, Flo stopped in the doorway and turned around and said “Ladies, there is something that I would like to introduce to you at the next meeting.”

In my mind, that statement was the spark that started the flame that has lasted for over 60 years – and is brighter today than it ever was I had no idea at that time that I was witnessing such a powerful movement.

At the October meeting, Flo presented the idea of a cotillion with all of major and subordinate committees necessary, working together for a common cause.

Just hours after this meeting, the telephone wires were hot and burning from small surrounding communities saying no, you cannot have a cotillion just for Red Bank and saying that you cannot have a Westside Branch YMCA cotillion for the Red Bank area. We must be included in this. Please tell us what our community needs to do to be a part of it.

At the November meeting of the Westside Branch YMCA Women’s Auxiliary, Florence Hayes expressed this point of view:

“I know you ladies have already started your various committee functions, but this cotillion this spring will be the Monmouth County Cotillion. There will be other towns involved. Proceed with your responsibilities. They will also do the same.”

The First Monmouth County Cotillion started on time 8:00 pm, April 28th, at the Asbury Park High School auditoriumbefore an audience of about 500 people.

May 14th, 2011, the 61st Cotillion will be presented at the Convention Hall in Asbury Park, New Jersey at 2:00 pm.