MALONE — A lifelong Mountain View community member and dedicated public servant in Franklin County, left a $100,000 charitable gift annuity to 4-H Camp Overlook.
Brian S. Langdon, who passed away in April 2025, spent much of his childhood and adult life at the Langdon family camp beside Hyde Park and the 4-H Camp, forging a deep and lasting connection to the area, according to a press release issued by Cornell Cooperative Extension.
According to Hannah F. Fisher, executive director of the extension’s Franklin County office, the donation to 4-H Camp Overlook was unexpected and is very much appreciated.
“It was very surprising, Brian had passed and it was one of his last wishes, he was very passionate about the North Country and Franklin County specifically,” Fisher told the Telegram on Tuesday, “He really believed that his time at 4-H Camp Overlook and Mountain View really shaped him and a lot of his views, and he wanted to give that to youth in our area.”
According to Fisher, the donation set up an annuity account.
“It was not expected or anticipated at all. It set up an annuity account which means that each year the interest accrues it will go out to scholarships for about twenty or more community members to attend,” she said, “That means this is something that is going to be kind of going on forever, it really is a sustainable means to continuously reach out to folks in the community. What was asked is that this be specific to help boys and girls of Franklin and St. Lawrence counties. This is strictly for our local communities and to ensure that we can have as many local citizens continue to utilize what’s right in our backyard.”
Langdon’s commitment to public service began in 1975 with the Mountain View–Owls Head Fire Department, where he served until 1981, according to the CCE, and he joined the Malone Call Firemen in 1982, holding several leadership roles, with his dedication extending to county service as deputy fire coordinator for communications and 911.
Throughout his life, Langdon served in other leadership and volunteer positions across Malone and Franklin County, and was chair of the board of directors for the former Franklin County Chapter of the American Red Cross, served six years as chief of Malone Rescue, and led the Franklin County EMS Association for three years, among many other such roles.
Langdon’s community involvement extended beyond emergency services and he also served on the 4-H Camp Overlook Committee. He also contributed to local government, serving as a village of Malone trustee from 2012 to 2014 and again from 2015 until his death in 2025.
Langdon’s gift to 4-H Camp Overlook reflects his lifelong belief in supporting local youth, according to the CCE, and the donation will help “ensure that generations of young people continue to benefit from the camp experiences he valued so deeply.”
Camp Overlook
According to Fisher, Camp Overlook is run jointly by the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Franklin and St. Lawrence counties.
Fisher said the camp is for children who are six through 17-years-old and is attended by local kids and youth from other parts of New York and Canada too.
“They come from all over, really there are so many folks that come up here,” Fisher said, “The Adirondacks has always been a place to escape and explore and there are many folks who come from New York City, out of state and even Canada who really have built a beautiful summer tradition in Mountain View.”
Fisher said the camp, on the shores of Indian Lake, celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2025.
4-H Camp Overlook runs from the first week of July to around the second week of August, according to Fisher.
“There’s a solid six week period of kids constantly up there and what’s great is that it’s also a place where community members can rent and have weddings or family reunions,” she said, “Cornell Cooperative Extension also oversees all of the 4-H programs and clubs and they are able to go up there, celebrate and use the space as well.”