When it was decided that the railway would terminate in Narvik, a hectic construction town emerged in Rombaksbotn. When the Ofot Railway was completed in 1902, Narvik was granted city status — and gained a population made up of workers, sailors, adventurers, and more or less law-abiding souls.

Where there is hard work, there is also a need for celebration.

In the bustling life of Rombaksbotn, taverns appeared like mushrooms, and the production, smuggling, and serving of fine (and less fine) spirits became widespread — to the delight of many and the corresponding irritation of the authorities.

Among the more colorful characters we find Annæus Myklevand and Nils Persson Nordholm, both central figures in a local community where the lines between trade, bootlegging, and smuggling were often… fluid.

The frequent arrivals to Narvik’s ore harbour from all over the world opened doors — and cargo holds. Goods that were not available in the town’s shops could be obtained out on the fjord. Enterprising Narvik residents seized the opportunity to row out to the ore ships to secure what was needed for a festive occasion.

Not all trips went unnoticed.

Sometimes the customs officers appeared, and the mood could quickly turn sour. Bottles were hastily thrown overboard — better lost than confiscated. The big question was always the same: Did the smugglers find their goods again after the customs boat had left the area?