Kevin, if it was me I wouldn't worry about species. I would look at improving the stand of timber. Try and select timbers of a similar size log that was originaly used and combine that info with thining/improving the timber stand at your folks place. Peal the bark off this time. I don't know why they didn't in the first place, I see lots of older timbers with the bark still on, they seem to be fine for the most part, bug holes, but still working. I don't see much power post beatle issues here in Washington county ME. Here is a futher question. Do power post beatles attack mostly hardwood or do they not have a favorite wood? Tim