Re sand house. I assume that the sand would come into the yard in an open waggon, from which it would be shovelled through a side hatch into the sand house, just forming a pile on the floor? Or was there a hopper in the sand house? To dry it, one would require hot air from a stove or small furnace to be circulated in the sand house, but if the sand was wet and in a hopper, drying it fully would take quite a while. More info. on sand house design required. Regards, Bill.