LINESVILLE — A Hartstown man has been charged with arson in connection with fires destroying Conneaut Lake Park’s historic Dreamland Ballroom and the Harmonsburg Presbyterian Church earlier this year, causing more than $1.5 million in damage.

Nickolas Dean Pope, 19, of 9740 Linesville Road, Hartstown, was arraigned late Friday afternoon on Pennsylvania State Police charges of two counts each of arson endangering persons, arson endangering property, burglary and criminal trespass.

Authorities allege Pope burned the Harmonsburg Presbyterian Church on Jan. 13, causing an estimated $180,000 in damages to the more than 160-year-old building; and the Dreamland Ballroom on Feb. 1, causing an estimated $1.5 million in damages.

Pope’s arrest was the result of a joint investigation between Pennsylvania State Police and agents of the federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms.

The news that a suspect was in custody was bittersweet for Conneaut Lake Park officials.

George Deshner, general manager of the park, said he’s relieved an arrest was made in the Dreamland Ballroom fire, but saddened as well. “I’m happy they determined what happened and there’s a suspect in custody,” he said. “At the same time, it leaves you with a horrible, sick feeling inside that these things happen.”

“It took a lot of cooperation of a lot of people to make this happen,” he continued. “There are a lot of people to thank in this investigation.”

Jack Moyers, chairman of the board of Trustees of Conneaut Lake Park, which owns the amusement park, agreed with Deshner’s assessment.

“We’re appreciative of all the people involved in the investigation,” Moyers said. “They handled it in a very expedient manner. I’m glad they were able to find a suspect.

“It (the arrest) takes away the question of how it happened, but not why,” Moyers said.

Both Deshner and Moyers said they knew the investigation into the fire was ongoing, but they both were unaware it was arson until Friday’s arrest. Fire debris from Dreamland Ballroom hasn’t been removed as yet, Deshner said. That work is expected to be completed by the middle of May, he said.

Attempts to contact the Rev. Bryan Powell of Harmonsburg Presbyterian Church were unsuccessful. The small congregation with less than 50 members has been holding services at the Harmonsburg Community Building since the fire in January.

“It was a lot of field work (by authorities),” said Trooper Dana Beckwith, a state police fire marshal, who would offer no details of how authorities were led to Pope.

“His name kept surfacing,” Beckwith said, referring to the process of tracking down leads in the case. “Information (as it developed) implicated him.”

Pope was placed under arrest Friday, following an interview at the state police barracks in Vernon Township.