The Fez came of age in the 1870s with the foundation of the Freemasons. On June 16, 1871, the original Thirteen Masons organized the first Shrine Temple - which they named "Mecca" - at Nickerbocker College on 6th Avenue. And in maintaining the Near East theme, these first Shriners chose to denote their exclusivity with the Fez. The notable red Fez with its black tassel became the Shrine's official headgear, and has since been handed down through the ages. It derives its name from the place where it was first manufactured â¬" the holy city of Fez in Morocco. Back in Adamstown, the Bollman Hat Company became the primary manufacturer of this style and has produced hundreds of thousands of felt Fezzes since the 1870's that have been worn by famous Shriners including Presidents Harry Truman and Gerald Ford, General Douglas MacArthur and Chief Justice Earl Warren.
