The year 2002 marks the 200th anniversary of Pickersgill. Founded by a group of female patriots only a quarter of a century after the United States was born, the retirement community is named for Mary Young Pickersgill, who -- along with her mother, daughter, and two nieces -- sewed the flag that flew over Fort McHenry and inspired Francis Scott Key to write the "Star-Spangled Banner" during the British bombardment of the Fort in the War of 1812.

The story begins in 1802 when a small group of concerned Baltimore women formed The Impartial Female Humane Society to help the City's poor widows and deserted wives. In the beginning, this philanthropic organization found employment for these destitute women. But as they aged, they needed a "home." Mary Pickersgill, one of the early leaders of the group, served as president of the Society in 1851 when the doors to the Aged Women's Home first opened at West Lexington Street and Franklin Square. Designed by architect Thomas Dixon, the Gothic Tudor building became a City landmark. Fourteen years later a home for men was built adjacent to the Aged Women's Home.

By the 1950s, the original Aged Women's and Aged Men's Homes faced considerable repairs and the city threatened to buy the buildings. The Board of Directors decided to build a new home on 16 acres in Towson. The site was a familiar one to the residents. It had served as a summer vacation retreat since 1943 when a bequest from Roberta and Augusta McLaughlin made the purchase of the property possible. All the residents were moved to the current location in 1959.