It doesn't matter if the history is deleted, you have to slect the object first then center the pivot and it will work.If you want to pivot in a perticular plave then select the object with the move tool and then hit insert on the keyboard, you can now move the pivot to where you want and then hit insert again to complete the move.
If you want to scale from that point hit R on the keyboard to change to the scale tool after the pivot move.