From same source:
room. It was an old house at Albany—a large, square, double house, with a notice of sale in the windows of the parlour. There were two entrances, one of which had long been out of use, but had never been removed. They were exactly alike—large white doors, with an arched frame and wide sidelights, perched upon little “stoops” of red stone,

I have heard the word, but never the definition:
stoop 2
n.
5Du stoep, akin to Ger stufe: for IE base see STEP6 a small porch or platform with steps and, orig., seats, at the door of a house
The etymology says it is from Dutch, and Albany had Dutch
settlers, and so Dutch customs.The idea of a shelter from the rain, and seats while waiting for doorbell to be answered is commendable.

Reminds me of an amentity of a hundred years ago, not seen now. The porte-cochere, a roof attached to house over entrance extending over driveway large enough for occupants of vehicle to get out without getting wet.