It cost three halfpence and covered news primarily from Ashton-under-Lyne, Stalybridge, Mossley, Dukinfield, Droylsden, Hooley Hill, Denton and Hyde.
Edward junior was the next to take the helm, aided by 19-year-old John Andrew, who had worked his way up from errand boy to a respected journalist at the paper.
The site was occupied by Marks and Spencer from the mid-1960s to 2013. Business boomed and in the 1880s the company bought six new Linotype machines to replace the out-dated presses.
Andrew died in 1906 leaving his two sons, Edward and William, to take control of the Reporter and one of the brothers' first moves was to buy a new three-deck Foster press.
On 4 November 1919, the flags on the Reporter office roof and Ashton Town Hall flew at half-mast to mark the death of Edward Andrew.
In 1925, the Reporter became a limited company and with the paper's continuing success and demand for bigger issues, the Foster press was enlarged, allowing for a 16-page edition to be printed.
Gerald revolutionised the paper in 1962 when news appeared on the front page for the first time (previously only advertisements were present).
In October 1966, the Reporter moved out of Warrington Street to Waterside Mill off Whitelands Road, Ashton, where a new high-speed Crabtree Viscount rotary press was installed, which allowed colour printing.
After spending years fighting off advances from United Newspapers, who were keen to buy the Reporter Group, Gerald Andrew finally conceded in February 1980.
In March 1986, Ashton Weekly Newspapers left Waterside Mill and moved to Park House, Acres Lane, Stalybridge.
Heading the new firm were Martin Lusby and Barrie Holden, supported by backers 3i and the Royal Bank of Scotland.
The paper briefly used a room in the old post office on Warrington Street but by the start of the 21st century it no longer had a presence in its home town.
Reporter and Chronicle Newspapers Ltd sold the publications to the New Charter Housing Association which promised a new look for both titles, investment and growth.
New Charter established Quest Media as an umbrella organisation to run the Reporter and Tameside Radio, which came into its ownership in 2013.