A neighbor gave me a board of the wood in the middle of the pic.  Didn't know what it was.  I thought maybe cherry, although the 4/4, 6" wide, 48" board felt pretty heavy.  For comparison, left is ash, right is black locust.  I'm going to try it backed with ash, 66" long, straight reflexed.  1&5/8"wide.  Not oak or hickory
Dave