ESCONDIDO —— Given her love of antiques, it's not surprising that Gwen Poole found herself volunteering for the Escondido Historical Society.

Poole's home is lined with cabinets housing historic mementos, small glass baskets, various containers and other collectibles illustrating life in earlier days, just as the historical society collections paint a picture of early life in Escondido.

Poole's particular interest is the Victorian House on Heritage Walk in Grape Day Park. That is also no surprise, since Poole got involved in fixing up the 1890s-era home practically from the time it was moved to the park in 1980, doing everything from stripping paint to choosing the wallpaper and textiles.

She continues to be heavily involved, meeting with members of the Victorian House committee to decide where new donations should go, changing the clothes on mannequins in the home and filling whatever other need arises.

"Gwen is so awesome because she has been involved from the very beginning. … She stays with it all the time," said Wendy Barker, executive director of the historical society. "When they move things around, she's always there to do that. She just goes beyond."

Poole made a new wreath for the house when the old one got tattered. Whenever there is a new exhibit, she is quick to volunteer to bring in an item or items from her collections to display, Barker added. When the hibiscus plants along the side of the historical society office were plagued by whiteflies, Poole brought out the spray cans and gardening tools and nursed the flowers back to health.

"We had a stain in one of the carpets, and she said, 'I've got some carpet cleaner. I'll get that.' She just goes above and beyond in so many ways," Barker said.

Poole is the last of the volunteers from the opening of the Victorian House still working as a docent for the historical society. She fills about five shifts a month in the house or in the museum inside the 1888 Santa Fe train depot in the park.

"A friend called me about the Victorian House in the park. It had been taken apart and there was a lot of work to do to get it together. She asked if I wanted to help," said Poole. "That's usually how you get involved in something, when a friend calls."

Now she helps in pretty much any way she can. Poole is a fixture at the society's annual Grape Day Festival and Memorial Day weekend classic car show. She enjoys marking prices on items for the group's rummage sales. And she rotates displays in the office so repeat visitors can see different exhibits.

"If I see something that needs to be done, I try to do it," Poole said.

Among her favorite benefits of volunteering at the historical society is learning about the history of Escondido, working with people who enjoy the same things she does and showing off some of the old-time appliances in the museums to touring groups of youngsters.

"I enjoy talking to people and telling them the story of Escondido," she said. "Escondido has a very interesting background. I've learned a lot from (volunteering)."

Poole's long tenure is valuable, as many of the society's earlier volunteers have died or because of advancing age are not able to assist as they once did, noted Barker. Plus, she conveys the area's history in an interesting way.

"In general, Gwen is very personable and easy to talk to," Barker said. "History is a subject that some think of as dull and boring. She manages to tell it in a manner so that people enjoy it."

Contact staff writer Jeff Frank at (760) 740-5419 or jfrank@nctimes.com.