A waste? For whom? Being that she's so reclusive, you have NO IDEA what she's done with her money -- just because she doesn't attach her name to it and use it for publicity like Brad and Angelina doesn't mean she hasn't done anything not "wasteful" with it.

That said, it's her money, and she can do whatever she wants with it. Including hoarding it. When you inherit millions, be sure to give it all away, though.

rather, done anything "wasteful" (less the not)

It sounds like a waste of a life. But how she spent her money, that is her business. It just sounds like a lonely, sterile existence.

...but it is her life.

It says in the article that she and her mother tore down a house in the depression and rebuilt it just to give people jobs. And she employs people to maintain her houses. I'm sure that other charitable deeds have been done, probably anonymously since she seems to dislike the public eye being upon her.

You are right, it is a terrible shame. One so lucky in life that hasn't been able to truly enjoy it. Everyones dream and so hard to come by for most. With no one to leave it to that could appreciate it and yes, then it will probably go to waste. So many jobless, homeless and hungry people that could benefit from just a small portion of the wealth. She should at least be made happy and comfortable during her last days. I wish her well.

Money is the root to all evil. She is a smart woman, she has taken care of her wealth and probably probably set up trust for the families of the caretakers. This is speculation though.

There will always be jobless and hungry people. Why is it the responsibility of the rich to come to the rescue? I am so tired of hearing "distribution of wealth". The wealthy made their money or inherited it and it's theirs to do with as they please. Are you sooooooooooo envious that you think your comment will make a difference? PLEASE get off your duff and go earn your own money.

I am tired of hearing, "...she could have helped many and still have been withdrawn...". Blah, blah, blah. Who is to say that she didn't help others with her money? That is a problem with society today...most people help others to get their names in the paper or on the news. And you should be ashamed to think that just because you haven't heard about it means that it didn't happen. Doing for others and not wanting in return is a rare thing these days. Unless you were her financial adviser, I wouldn't be so quick to judge!

When you inherit millions, be sure to give it all away, though.

Isn't that what everybody has to do when they die?

thanks betty, another socialist heard from. we should all live in drab houses, make the same income no matter your abilities... you can see how well that worked out for the ussr, china, cuba, n korea, they're all such gems.

she has and does help many people. The California estate, she bought the Scout camp right next dooe to the mansion, which was rented by them to someone else, and Donated permanently to the Scouts, boy and girl.

There is also a HUGE natural part salt, and freshwater area right next to the estate. The property would be worth 100's of millions today. She bought it and forever preserved it to keep it in it's natural state forever as a park and nature preserve. People had been trying to buy both proprties for years. So the scounts have their campground, and the animals have their preserve.

Her father was an donkey's rear to the max. Read about him. He didn't care for enviroment nor did he care for the people who worked for him. both were expendable. He got thrown out of congress .

She had a sister who died in her teens, and she become very close to her mother, ( was very close to the sister) and when her mother died, she dropped out.

Thru her attorney , she is aware and very active in helping people. she just doesn't wear it on her sleeve as most do. Her attorney is one of 2 people that knows where she is. He isn't saying.

sad, sad story. If you knew her father, and her relationship with mother and sister, you would know why she is what she is.

to say she doesn't help people, is utter nonsense. she is aware, awake, and not in dementia

Just because she doesn't seek fame for her charitable deeds doesn't mean she hasn't done any. Living a life out of the lime light isn't a waste. Frankly, to me it shows more character than the many fame seekers out there demonstrate. As others have stated, it's her money and she can do whatever she wants with it.

She doesn't have to HELP anyone! It's HER MONEY and she has the right to SPEND HER MONEY ANYWAY SHE SEES FIT!

Her family employed thousands of people in their companies, and building and maintaining their homes.

What have YOU done to help other people??

Don't be surprised that when she finally dies, that her longtime 'trusted' financial advisor and attorney somehow end up with the bulk of her estate.

Being a Jerome resident and seeing the destruction caused by the mining, plus reading about Senator Clark's extreme selfishness, and about Clark's major trouble with the law in California for his twisted behavior, I would assume his daughter lived a difficult life. Even Mark Twain hated him!

Nonetheless, there has been healing in Jerome now that the mines have been closed for over 50 years, which turned Jerome into a ghost town! The trees and birds and wildlife have returned, as have the people, now mostly artists instead of miners.

For more Jerome history, you can see my comment on # 18 further down, or go to the Jerome Historical Society website, or see our website, silentmovies.com. We also have some Jerome clips on U-Tube on AZ Film and Video Archive.

The article about Clark, the heiress, her family and her history, is fascinating.

Thanks MSNBC for presenting this story.

Well, an obvious waste of personal resources, and of course the money used to maintain these empty properties. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Maybe this lady has done some good with her fortune in other ways, but waste is a typical American cultural trait.

Dennis:

This is what America is about. To live your life the way you see fit. Great Wealth or not.

Why is it a waste? Each estate is employing people either directly at the estate or by contractors servicing the estate. There are taxes being paid on the properties. Just because this lady doesn't seek the lime light doesn't mean she hasn't instructed where her money is to be distributed upon her death. She may be donating to charities now. Those who publicly donate do so as much for the attention as for the good of the charity. This is still the USA. This lady is free to do what she wants with her wealth. If one wants to direct how wealth should be distributed, one should go make his/her own fortune. The true waste in this country is all the people sitting on their a**es with their hands out and getting a paycheck from the government.

Hoosier Diver:

Love it! The last sentence is GREAT!

YES, Hoosier Diver, you are so very right! It is really none of our business to speculate what she does with her money and how it is being "wasted" or not. Good for you, Miss Clark to stay away from the nosy and judgmental persons! And, once again to agree with Hoosier, the sad and shameful should be those who mooch off the government and the working people who contribute to these welfare programs. Get a job please!

Really, why a waste? She has every right to do whatever she wants with her money. Being a recluse is part of aging and finding out how very rotten this world and its inhabitants really are! One gets tired of the rip offs, liars and the like...not to mention all the many moochers (1/2 the population). As for the Jerome residents, quit complaining, progress is progress, no matter who the culprit is. An the environment, ah...the environment has been a topic used and abused by all politicians since the dawn of time, same as the weather forever changing, though is is attributed to earth abuses, not so, they are just cycles than come and go every so often. Imagine if we didn't need Oil and was not shipped to America nor mined in the ocean, then the many accidents would have never occurred.

I Think She Is Being Takeing And Used She Don't Know What Is Going On I Hope Someone Steps In To Find Out Were Is All Of Her Stuff Going It Is Bad When You Don't Know I Wish All The Beat

good luck finding 1000 wise Americans these days

And you're just hoping you're one of those "wise" people , huh!?!?!

and blame it all on george bush!!

yeah cause obama has had her picked out since he was a little boy in kenya. /eyeroll

that's the dumbest thing i ever heard. Scott Hooper. Why not divide Pi by 17.2 multiply the balance by 2, send the difference to 12 ordinary people, and explain to them that they have 23 days and 7 minutes to change the world, without impacting the environment, using fur, eating tasty animals, consuming oil, but of course they can smoke all the pot they want, have free and wild sex, and abortion on demand, and demand all the other rich people cough up all their money too.

@dbd, but I like eating tasty animals. And all that pot smoke doesn't have an effect on the environment? How the hell are you going to grow all that weed without destroying natural habitats you moron!

@Scott, I would take all that land, tear down that mansion, and build a entire community of houses and businesses in it's place. Now that would create more jobs than what your suggesting.

J Bell-2099792, there are no death taxes this year....this year only.

How sad to bring Obama and Bush into this there were estate taxes long before them and will be long after them. How sad that she had to become a recluse but it is her money to do with what she wants.

I see the people obsessed with President Obama can't even resist from mentioning him even on this story. LOL.

Liz, don't bring logic and fact in reference to politics. You KNOW how that 'distorts' things. :-)

wut do obama or bush or any president have to do with this story..... grow up get off their **** reread the story and make a comment that has to do with the story i see some people didnt get a good grade in comprehending

Heres a better one as far as Tearing down and rebuilding ...

Here in Michigan ( close to where Huguettes Mother was from) a very large home ( 65 rooms) called the Longyear Mansion was totally "dismantled" and shipped on 190 railroad cars from Marquette Mich to Brookline MA! The original setting for this home was on a cliff overlooking Lake Superior and the grounds were designed by Frederick Olmsted.

As far as Huguettes story , One I became familiar w/ 30 years ago as I sat w/ ( now deceased) Miss Cote Smith of Butte Montana in Huguettes original home.... Yes. another interesting story ...

...Life "can" be interesting ...Make it so !!!

Interesting . Calumet was where her mother was born , correct?

Yes.

Huguettes Mother was.

which mansion one in marquette or one in calumet?

Given the way the article says he built and ran his businesses and lived, that money should have all been taxed even before her father died, and he sent to the prison.

What does Obama got to do with this? Get a life.

Scott- so she is to start a lottery?

she knows what work is. she was not a socialist. sorry, pick anohter sucker

Typical american attitude... standing there with your hand out doing nothing and expecting to be compensated for it. What entitles ANYONE to her inheritance but her? How she spends it or saves it should be her own business. Here is a thought... everyone get off their lazy asses and go to work, and go make your own millions, and contribute to society yourselves, instead of standing there waiting for a free hand out. And once you do that, lets see how quickly you would just give it away.

It is the Republicans that can't wait to get their hands on her death tax so they can fund another neverending war with some country and give away our grandchildern's money rebuilding their roads, highways, bridges, school, libraries and building as our own crumple around us.

Shellz is right. Americans need to go to work, oh but only if there were jobs let alone a job that in today's time where you didn't need to be a CEO to make millions. Maybe she needs a tax break!

Typical american attitude...standing there with your hand out doing nothing and expecting to be compensated for it

A lot of assumptions there about americans in general! Yeah, if every American got as brutal a cheat as her father was, everyone would have been a millionair (or wait, no one would be - you need to have a large populace that lends itself to cheating by being busy working and living a life rather than looking to exploit someone). Moreover, it was a lot of Americans that worked to get him rich, unless, he hired illegal immigrants, like a lot of capitalistic corporations do now. Just that all thos that worked hard didn't get rich like him.

What entitles ANYONE to her inheritance but her?

You're right in pointing out that her entitlement comes purely out of an accident, viz, birth.

go make your own millions, and contribute to society yourselves

The ones that make millions don't 'contribute to society'; they make others contribute towards their millions.

, lets see how quickly you would just give it away.

I charge less for my work and live in a smaller house, rather than grab money any way I can and then 'give it away'. I am sure a lot of people with real ideals do it that way, thgough it might sound like a crazy idea to you, who adores money so much as to cling on to it.

I do not adore or cling to money. And I live in a small house as well (two rooms), And I work full time, and paid to put myself through college (working class parents passed away and left no inheritance behind), I live within my means, pay my own debt, save when I can, and have NEVER used any form of federal or state help, rich strangers, or my friends to have and maintain what I have in life. And I pay my taxes. And I spend all my free time and free money volunteering and helping those who truely need it....so I am not the only one making assumptions. It is my experience there are more people out there who are are capable of doing exactly the same thing, but choose not too because it is easier to just take from others.. or have our tax money pay their way.

great! And in that casae, i was referring to the those millionaires your comment was supporting so hard.

Tax Free??? U realize we live in the US, right??? Even if the "end user" is a charity, the initial money would still be considered an income for John/Jane Doe. That, of course, would be taxable.

If it was just going to go to a charity from that person, then the most seamless way of doing so would be to donate DIRECTLY to that charity, in John/Jane Doe's name. Whether or not they would still reap any later tax benefits from that kind of charitable donation, I do not know. But if it doesn't come into their hands at first, I don't think it can be counted as an income, and I don't think they would get any breaks for the donation.

For those of you who said she hasn't done anything with her money, you didn't really read the article. As far as the "tearing the house down to give people jobs to rebuild..." GOOD! It's better than the welfare system where money is just handed to people who haven't done something to earn it. FYI....YOU AND I ARE PAYING FOR THAT! Wouldn't you rather they EARN their welfare? Go help clean up the local streets, plant trees, clean up grafiti, paint a fence, SOMETHING! Then get the check! It wouldn't be welfare so much as it would be at least some earned source of income.

Everyone is looking for an easy meal ticket, some way to get a bunch of money for little to no effort (like the lottery dream for so many!). Haven't you heard what happens to lottery winners? So often, they'll end up getting huge bundles of mail from every nook & cranny in the country from people with down-on-their-luck stories and "could you please give/donate/provide-for-me-scenarios."

My guess is she decided long ago what will happen to her money & estate when she's gone, and it's not for anyone else to try to judge or begrudge out of jealousy or envy. She's an old woman now, and she's maintained her mystery, her privacy, for her own reasons. Wouldn't you rather have a small handful of people you can trust rather than a hundred "friends" you can't? You can bet that attorney is being well paid for his silence, but he's obviously earned it if he's keeping mum about her.

Until you have the kind of money she has, who are you/we to judge? I don't have it like that, but I wouldn't go telling the world if I did. I'd make sure I met my "bucket list" & give my donations on my terms.

That's my soap box,

Amen! God Bless!

"tearing the house down to give people jobs to rebuild..." GOOD! It's better than the welfare system where money is just handed to people who haven't done something

Hope you're not an economist - the economy will never get back up with these kinds of ideas to 'make people deserve' money, doing a no-job. Too many did such non-productive 'jobs' to bring the economy to the shambles it is. And to say more of the same can only come from thinking that money as a commodity, rather than a token that is used in exchange of commodity.

Until you have the kind of money she has, who are you/we to judge?

Money has been judging people, making rules, ignoring rules ever since the capitalistic idea has been taken too far. To emphasize that is to run away from reality. Judging is better done using brains rather than money

Im sick of hearing what other people should do with their money. Havn't you heard? In a few more years, if the liberals have their way, there won't be any rich people left. They'll have been taxed out of existence or will have fled the country, as most have already fled California.

What makes you think something like that? why should she have to save a planet that refuses to save itself? No person owes another person from cradle to the grave care. If you are so anxious to throw your own money away go for it. But if you had the money, $10 bucks says 9 out of 10 people wouldnt help anyone else. We are not a communistic or socialistic country, and I really wish the liberals would see that. She has already given back to charity. And charity is an evil thing, be cause of all that it takes away from the person. I agree with helping kids, elderly, or the infirmed. But wealth redistribution is a crock. You want money get a job, get 2 of them. then share the wealth.

well said and amen!

who is chasing her around for her money? I didn't see that written anywhere.

You are right. Neither did I read anything in relation to people chasing her for her money. However, she could do better than that.

Chasing her? It did not say that. Weird comment.

Maybe people aren't "chasing her for her money" But everyone sure seems to want to tell her to do with it!

No wonder she has been reclusive!

If all the people she doesn't even know (like on here) want to tell her how to spend her money (Even if YOU think it should be spent on charity, world peace, etc) imagine the BS she would be putting up with from people she DOES know trying to spend her money for her!

~~~Note~~~

For all of the do-gooders making suggestions as to how she should spend her millions........How much of your money do you spend on "charity''? Do you live in a glass house?

Particularly since she has been a recluse all these years. How can she be chased when NO ONE KNOWS WHERE SHE IS? !!

Her Attorney knows where she is.

The vultures will come in after her Estate/Will is presented.

I agree completely with you. I very much hope she lived the life she wanted. She didn't follow the trail most heiress do, she created her own unique path. I'm most certain she has given countless donations, without needing public recognition or attention. I sincerely hope all the best for her.

Bill you're a dork, speak for yourself and not all Americans. I'm not greedy nor are others I know or meet, in fact I haven't enough money to be greedy even if it was in my nature, the bankers Thomas Jefferson warned about have taken it all, including you. WAKE UP!!!

I have read through most of the comments and not one has mentioned the fact that her childhood may not have been a bed of roses. One can only imagine what she had seen and experienced throughout the years. Since she and her mother were so close, her mother could have been the eagle that taught her daughter how to soar above the political BS. We weren't there we don't know what took place behind closed doors, so I say until we know the true facts, leave the poor woman alone and allow her to finish living her days the way she wants to. Whew, haven't heard anything about her in years and as soon as something is mentioned it brought out the beast in people. Go Ms. Clark and be just who have been all this time. May God look down from his throne and smile on you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I agree, this sounds like an amazing story. The lady lived the way she wanted and than made a choice to live a different way. She seems like someone who would make a great character in a human interest story. To live to be 104 is amazing within it self, but to chose a completely humble way of life is extraoridinary for this day an time, maybe age adds wisdom afterall....I pray for the best health for her!

Edward Allen, that's nice that you aren't greedy and the people that you meet and know aren't either. Where do you live because I want to hop on that magical train ride and move to that place. Truth be told, MOST, not all, Americans are greedy. We live in a world now that most people ask what can you do for me instead of what can I do for the community. It's a "me" world.

I am not American, but I think Americans generally are not greedy people though I find some to be weird. Well that's my perception from the few I have interacted with. Of course there are extremes, and this is in every environment. But good to know that there are people out there who are not "greedy". Dear Dee, believe it or not.

'Bill I totally agree with you, people seem to want the most for the least amount of effort in this country anymore and why should we evaluate her or judge her? I know I certainly wouldn't want to live the life of fame and celebrity status exposing myself and my family to the "runaway" media circus that one's life can be turned into, the media call it "public interest" when all in all, it's simply American greed. Make money off of others troubles or adventures. Besides, who are WE to judge?? I say kudos to this lady and I hope she has lived her life to the fullest in the manner that she saw fit to do and continues to do so til the day she passes on from this life!

Yup. Kudos. I wonder how much money we spend on all things involved in being voyeurs into other people's lives, namely the rich and famous.

I'd say the world would be a better place if we were each as interested in our own lives and families. Then all the money we spend as a society on ogling celebrities could instead go toward....<insert random charity that would save the world>...

LOL talk about someone else paying for it, her senator daddy's likely ill gotten bucks paid and paid and paid for it. There is a new royalty in America, well concealed, it is called our political system, and with more and more of them being millionaires while fewer and fewer Americans have enough to get by on, while our first lady travels about unconcerned with the struggles of the working poor, and clearly too removed to sympathize with them, well it is looking more and more like Americans will need to take back what USED to be a good quality of life, from those who would clearly rob us of that. Folks like her heiressness's daddy, so that she will forever have the funds to maintain empty palaces, even as public schools remain filled with abestos and lead paint, housing of others goes to ruin for lack of a few bucks more than the bills by months end. This is another example of disgusting waste and excess.

Ooo- I wouldn't place all your eggs in that non-existent basket.

and so it will be non-existent for you, sadly, Jeeya

You know, the irony here is that so many atheists hoot and holler about how the religious are constantly ramming their "God" down everyone's throat, but they don 't miss any chance to throw in a little passive aggressive jab at anyone making any sort of religious reference.

Live and let live Jeeya, what do you care if she believes in the existence or non-existence of heaven?

so many atheists hoot and holler about how the religious are constantly ramming their "God" down everyone's throat, but they don 't miss any chance to throw in a little passive aggressive jab at anyone making any sort of religious reference

So the non-religious hoot and holler while the religious make religious references - typical brainwashing style of structuring.

You're point, 'religion', by definition and by practise, is something that is beyond challenging, is correct. They are just a collection of statements to be religiously followed without trying to reason it out.

Live and let live Jeeya

What's the relevance of this suggestion, with reference to Jeeya's comment? Moreover, I thought religion said heaven comes after you're done living

what do you care if she believes in the existence or non-existence of heaven?

That question is for the one that brought in the heaven in the first place, not for the one that commented on it

the world would be a much better place if we were all reclusive. then we could point out our own beliefs and not be judged. religion or lack there of is not the issue and besides it really isnt your place to tell her what is there and what is not, cuz how do you know have you died lately and came back all knowing? the lady is probably quite upset that she has had this much lime light shown on her given every thing she has done to stay out of it, think about that for a second. and what a cynical group of people assuming that the attorney is robbing her blind. Wow to quote my kid ya need to get a grip.

Well said Mark.

Very true. The earlier people get to know that the better for them.

Actually it is a lesson of physics - a person can exist in just one place/house at a time, no matter how many he/she owns.

The woman is 104. How old do you think people live to? This is the most disgustingly insincere post I've read and exactly the type of sentiment the women seems to be trying to avoid... oh, yeah, I'm so sure you'd want to be her friend for nothing. Riiiight.

The question I have for this "Good Samaritan Debbie"" is when was the last time she became friends with a homeless person, visited the sick in the hospital or wrote a letter to someone who was destitute and poor so she could be their "friend" at "no cost or obligation?"

I don't know. People who are rich are probably the most cynical about other people for good reason... because of people like Debbie.

As another poster said, we have no idea what this heiress did with her money privately and she has absolutely no obligation to line the pockets of greedy people and those who covet other people's wealth or say sanctimonious things such as "She could have helped others..." etc.

I believe hypocrite is the term for people like this who judge others based upon their status in life rather than the individual's merits.

Bad people can be poor as well as rich. The rich do not have a corner on the market for being bad...they just get publicized more for what they do wrong, after all, if "common" people's dirty laundry were published for all to see, you wouldn't have a very good opinion of them either.

Ahh dont be so cynical. If you are not effected by this you are cold hearted. We sometimes dont see what is right at our front door until they knock. The Today Show knocked. Not everyone is out for money

Debbie what a great idea but instead of trying to hunt down a wealthy elderly person to show affection to why dont you go to any and every adult care facility and befriend anyone you possibly can. There are a lot of lonely elderly people out there and they dont have to have a lot of money to be deserving of attention and affection.

Oh for Heaven's sake -- get the hell off of Debbie's back and quit attacking her. This story touches a lot of us, and I'm sure Debbie didn't mean anything to deserve the nasty backlashing she's getting from those of you being so ugly to do so. Why can't people make a positive, heartfelt comment without the negative, jaded wolves of the message boards jumping all over them and ripping them apart? Y'all are every bit as bad (if not worse) than the greedy people you speak of. While I agree with the suggestions of visiting with others (elderly, homeless) that could use a friend, as well..............most of those same people have had at one time in their lives, I'm sure, genuine relationships with others who appreciated them as (non-rich) human beings. When you have money, you never know who likes you just for the sake of being *you* -- you can't trust people, sadly. *THAT* is what makes this story so utterly sad, IMO. I think that's where Debbie was coming from.....she would like for this lady to know what having a friend is, with absolutely no strings attached. Not everyone values the Almighty dollar over friendship and love. You could lose all of your money and posessions tomorrow in the blink of an eye, but a true friend lasts forever. The people lucky enough to have others in their life who enjoy their company and love them no matter what comes, are the richest and most blessed, IMO. I really feel so sorry for people who have to always be so cynical, negative, and just plain ugly to others for no reason. You are to be pitied more than Ms. Clark, I think.

@ debbie schear,

There are thousands more like her in nursing homes across the country. Go today to your local nursing home and find a very lonely, sad, elderly person that no one visits that you can be friends with.

heck they will probably out live you

I agree with you, it is a sad and very strange story. I love stories like that and I'm glad I caught this one. It's not the sadness I like, but the mystery of the woman. I hope she is happy.

Yes, mistry she is and I think weird too.

What is so sad about it, other than most of your eager assumption that she is unhappy - that she didn't live in one (or some) of her houses? I'm sure an unhappy, sad person wouldn't have lived that long - depression kills.

I agree with tes-1779376, if she was extremely sad and unhappy, she probably wouldn't be alive right now. Scientists have found that a loss, grief, or depression can lead to changes in the immune function that could lead to death, unless it's coped with. I just hope the reason that she's still here today is because she was able to cope and accept her mother's death.

I noticed a lot of people talking about what she might be doing with her money. Well, here's what I THINK she might be doing/will do with her money: Considering she tore down her house to give people jobs, it shows that she cares a lot about other people, going on that, she's probably donated a lot to charity, and as people have said before on here, she most likely did it anonymously as to not attract attention to herself. I think when she dies she'll probably donate most, if not all, her money to charity, and she'll probably give some to the caretakers and the people who work at her houses and apartment to keep them going.

I really do hope she is living her life as she wants to, and I wish her all the happiness and joy in the world.

This is just what I think, though, I'm not saying it's fact, except for that little tidbit about people could die from grief if not coped with. So, please, express your opinions, but please don't do it in a rude way.

BENJOH the quote is "The love of money, is the root of all evil".

not

''money is the roof of all evil''.

please folks, get it right or don't write anything.

The story did seem a bit slanted away from her father. Of course, when I was young and learning about the 'robber barons', Roosevelt, Getty, etc., it seems like I heard the same thing being said about them. It there's someone with money and they aren't spending it on you, I guess you'll call him an SOB, too.

It just says how 'someone with money' is so. And whether an article says it or not about some other with that kind of money, the term 'filthy rich' says it all. It's not about how they spend it, but about how dirty they played to acquire it. Oh yes, it says he burnt 7 tons of coal a day to keep a hadful of people comfortable, transporting that coal from some point to his house; that must have given some coal miners jobs - what a noble cause!

Pay the damn mortgage yourself, for pete's sake!!!!!

That is pathetic. I'm surprised Joann could figure out how to work a computer to post her plea.

You are probably the type of person she wants to avoid.

Provide yourself with a place to live. Millions who have nothing are homeless in our country. You need to get off your butt and get to work instead of asking for a handout. Maybe then you could help someone else.

call Obama, 1-800-xferdawealth

Second that, and drill baby drill

This is truly a sad story. I wish her the best and hope that she is enjoying the happiness that she has brought to others.

On the other hand, I can't believe that people will use any platform to discuss politics. It has been and still is a sad era in our country. I have always hoped that people could be objective thinkers, but I see this is not the case.

Enjoy your life Hughette, you have nothing to prove to anyone. God's speed!

what stinks here is you pbls.........you just cannot understand why she wouldn't just give you any money

You have a good point pbis - she is too old to manage her money. I'm sure there are ppl behind her furtune. It is kind of fishy - think outside of the box ppl. I hope she is well.

I agree something is rather off about this story. Something is missing. But who knows, I'm sure there is more to this story than what is printed in this article.

If someone else took over her estate, they have kept her homes and land in prestine order. We have to keep in mind that when a mega-rich person decides to live a private life it doesn't mean they are sitting in a corner doing nothing. They didn't have paparazzi then like we do now. There weren't camera's on every corner to track every person like there is now. It's highly likely that she travelled and lived her life. No one needs to know where you are 100% of the time.

It is the same today..Bill Gates and Mobile phones are doing much worse. They are damaging human behaviour and its thinking. Brain tumours due to WiFi shall hit like an epidemic in years to come. PC's have individualized human beings into a cocoon of self indulgence never seen before. It is the same. Yesterday's barons lynching serfs are today's Multicorporations owners and executive are not better in dealing with their serfs of today.

oh, amoralls, don't forget the other buzz word from your liberalism for dummy's book, the military industrial complex.

What is a multicorporation owner by the way LOL

Right on, Kathleen of Sedona, & Yes, the place got poisoned so badly nothing would grow with the horrible air. Locals told me that many could not have children here until after they had moved away for some time.

Slight correction about the mines here. Clark had one (huge) mine in Jerome. He built the town of Clarkdale inorder to transport the mined ore rocks via train down to Clarkdale through the Hopewell tunnel, where they were then smeltered, which did poison portions of the land near Tuzigoot. However, there were no mines in Clarkdale.

There is now an interesting train ride that passes the old Clarkdale smelter on it's way up Sycamore Canyon to Perkinsville, all beautiful country, along the Verde River, with protected bald eagles and lots of wildlife to see from the train.

Phelps Dodge purchased Clark's mine many years back, and just recently, another company took over. I hear they have been cleaning up a lot of the poison left behind, after being ordered to do so by the gov't. They even installed a heli-pad for our fair city of 450ish. I haven't seen anything land there yet, except for a few unidentified flying objects in from Sedona!

I'm currently working on a dvd production about Clark's era here in Jerome that doesn't include much about Clark himself, as he didn't actually live here. He did build the Narrow Gauge railroad around 1884 connecting Jerome to Jerome Junction, (near Chino Valley), so that both he and his ore could be transported in and out without having to continue using the mule drawn wagons over all of these mountains. So, he visited Jerome quite often, probably staying in his beautiful Montana Hotel that burned down.

Jerome was a rough town back then, on par with Tombstone, only worse. A New York Newspaper declared Jerome to be "The Wickest Town in the West", and it was, with a huge number of saloons, many whore houses right on Main St., and opium dens under most of the Chinese restaurants. Even Pancho Villa grew up in Jerome! Jerome was the place to be, back when Jerome had a population of 15,000 residents. Then the mines closed and Jerome became a ghost town.

Now we are an artist colony with wonderful restaurants and art galleries. We produced 2 dvds about Jerome, one about the ghosts called "Spirits of Jerome" and one about the history, called "Jerome". We also produced a giclee' print, called "The Doors of Jerome". You can pick them up at local stores or at silentmovies.com.

Look at the mine in Butte Montana!!! Too contaminated to live near.

I'm not a big fan of her music, but I know Madonna has worked her butt off for what she has; don't forget she's been re-inventing herself to stay in the limelight since the early-mid 1980's. And she's still cutting albums. Don't lump her with those of dubious talent like Lohan and her kind.

But Money brings music stars immorality, and trust me i don't care how hard she works she is the biggest slut of them all she paved the road for them to drive on!

Reinventing herself as what? Just because somebody works very hard doesn't mean they're making the world a better place. That whole laughing at somebody trying to be decent like the Kevin Costner episode saying "neat". Nothing progressive about defecating on niceness or gentleness. Gentle is not a vice.

Always thought Madonna and Sean Penn have a lot in common. BS artists... made a good couple that way.

This 104 year old woman is leaving this world soon and I don't think the current popular culture is something she needs to regret missing.

LOts of happy rich people too. You should stop reading the tabloids.

Precisely why she was likely content in solitude. I believe it was Sartre who said "Hell is other people." Amen to that!

But Jeeya....you are the other people. Me, I like a lot of people. I like my family too. I like living in America. Just saying.

The article says at some point, that she supposedly had very few friends - nothing says she lived her life in solitude. She was simply not a public person, for a millionaire, that's it, I think. Probably, the media didn't get juicy stories out of her, so didn't follow her either. Now at age 100+, there might not be a whole lot alive that she finds a good companion in.

Joe B-427793's attack is out of place - the topic of discussion is not you, but a millionaire woman that owned several mansions, and, probably lived somewhere in America. Just reasoning...

Here! Here! I don't keep a following either, immediate family only (and my sisters drive me crazy at that) and one or two friends. People always want something from you, and as long as your doing it for them everything's great. But Stop and they can't be found. And they are definitely not there for you!

I've drastically reduced the exhaustive clutter in my life too. Smaller home, fewer posessions, and a quieter, simplified social life.

The gains have been priceless. Increased peace and solitude for spiritual growth, meditation and study. Renewed and more meaningful relations with my immediate family and close friends. Time to pursue simple interests I was too exhausted and stressed to enjoy in my previous multitasking, sleep deprived existance.

Feel like I've finally found my place in the universe.

Me too........I'm very anti-social. I would rather be by myself -- I don't like being around people. I grew up entertaining myself, the only time I really had anyone to play with was when my cousin Tony came to visit a couple of times a year, and when I was in school during the day. Otherwise, I had my animals and books. The rare times that I had school friends overnight, I was ready for them to go home the next day. If I spent the night with them, I was calling my mom the next morning to come and get me. I don't see why it's always labeled as a negative, when people are anti-social. Most of us aren't nasty, mean, selfish people or anything....we simply prefer our own quiet company, is all. I certainly don't blame Ms. Clark one bit, for being the recluse that she's become. She's built a wall around herself because she doesn't know who she can trust to be *real* or if they're just after her money. Plus....the loss of her mother must have thrown her into a depression, to add to everything. I'm sure she's made arrangements for all of her worldly goods after she passes, so everyone should just leave the poor dear alone, bless her. Maybe then she'll finally have the peace and happiness that eluded her when she was alive.

LK534505

'I believe i have finally found my place in the universe.'

i believe it is simply called 'maturity' .

another virtue that seems to have gone out of fashion, and has been for some time.

The sad part is that if she dies after Dec 31, 2010, the federal government will "steal" 55% of the estate in the form of an estate tax.

Can you think of anything more corrupt?

Nope!

What profligate waste of resource to leave it empty how many decades more so some one can imagine they are wealthy by holding onto it as an "asset' of no utility. Phooey on the greed mongers. The maldistribution of wealth creates nothing but misery. Let's lend it spend it send it rolling along. Thats how capitalism flourishes not like this sort of stagnant nonsense. Floors you can't walk on. What are floors for?

The sad part is that if she dies after Dec 31, 2010, the federal government will "steal" 55% of the estate in the form of an estate tax.

Can you think of anything more corrupt?

Yes, some benefactor of millions doing her in before the time runs out. No telling what money-crazy do to make that millions, they need to be very practical and focussed on the green. Else, everyone would be millionaires and then the millions lose its value and would be just not be enough to buy acres of land and multiple mansions. They should never had let that hole in the estate tax policy form.

Tes - WHAT????

try reading once again and see if helps. Other than that, I'm sorry I can't help you resolve all those question marks in your 'comment'.

not to be mean, but i hope she passes away before Dec. 31st so the government can't have any of the wealth they will only spend it on more gov.

Omg. This must the the dumbest reply I've ever read. Not only you're off subject, you are insensitive. Obviously you have a little more time on your hands then you ought to have. This is about a Mansion, a missing woman and her well kept estate. Period.

That is a moron's reply. Our country is full of brain washed moron's like this. If she dies before the end of the year she will benefit from the loophole that Bush put in for the rich. Like Steinbrenner did. His family did not pay any tax, so all that money will have to be gotten from the middle class like me....and J Bell...the moron at the start of this thread.

You poor simple minded individual. It's people like you, who boast about Bush even after he was responsibile for the deaths of so many of our soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq (i.e. men and women) and almost brought the country to it's knees financially. As President Obama has stated repeatedly, he has only been in office a little over one year and has a lot of clean-up to do. That means, ignorant person that he's cleaning up Bush's mess. This story is about an heiress not for you to open up a conversation about our current president. Stick with the subject matter at hand and save the BS for another day.