On September 30, 1898, a committee of the street fair was appointed to select candidates for queen of the fair. The committee was composed of two women: Mrs. Fred Seacord and Mrs. E.D. Gunnell. They chose Mrs. C.C. Craig, Mrs. George L. Price, Florence Cooke and Helen MacKay. Each vote for one of the queen candidates cost five cents. The money would help to cover the expenses of the fair.
 
Ballot boxes were placed at the fair headquarters on Cherry Street as well as the Union Hotel, O.T. Johnson Department Store and other locations in the business district. By October gth, 1,237 votes had been cast. When the boxes were opened on October 8 O", a total of 10,385 nickels had been spent for the Queen of the Fair. It was reported envelopes of a hundred dollars in cash had been brought into the fair headquarters at the last minute. Some were too late to be counted. The fair treasury was enhanced by $581.60 (equal to just over $17,000 in today's money).

Miss Florence Cooke, daughter of the Mayor E. E. Cooke was named queen along with eight attendants. Her sister Bessie was among the attendants. The queen and her court would be escorted by the Cadets of Knox College and the men of Company C, 6th Regiment, of the Illinois Militia (Illinois National Guard). 
 
A special stand was erected in the Public Square for the coronation. A canopy was stretched over the platform to shade the royal party. The queen's throne was placed in the center. An oriental carpet covered the floor.
 
 The coronation took place at 2:30 pm on October 12th. Afterward, the queen and her court led the flower parade through downtown Galesburg. A ball was to be held in Marquette Hall in the evening. It was by invitation only.
 
At the coronation, Dr. William Bradley, chairman of the street parade, placed a diamond tiara with an egret feather attached to the front on Miss Cooke's head. The tiara had been loaned by Trask & Plain Jewelers. It was valued at $4000. Mayor Cooke presented his daughter with the keys to the city. There were two keys, but no mention as to what they opened. They were trimmed with ribbons.
 
Miss Cooke wore a gown of heavy white satin with a court train. The sleeves and bodice were decorated with pearls. Pink and white roses trimmed the edges of the skirt and train. Mrs. Fred Burtt had designed the dress.
 
In the meantime, the floral parade had proceeded from Chambers Street down Main Street to the Public Square. The queen and attendants then stepped on to a float decorated by the O.T. Johnson store. The parade than traversed Main Street again. There was a solid line of observers along the sides of the thoroughfare.

As the parade passed, one observer, Carl Sandburg, whispered "Hello" to Bessie Cooke. She had sat near his desk in eighth grade. He considered her a lovely girl with brunette hair.
Miss Cooke had been born in August, 1876, the daughter of Forrest and Sarah Collins Cooke. Florence had received her musical education in Chicago. She was married to George W. Fritts on September 25, 1900.