Shipley Hollow Road is an allegedly haunted road in Sale Creek, Tennessee. These stories go back 150 years and are mentioned in several local books, including Ghosts of the Southern Tennessee Valley.[1] The ghost or creature is referred to as Pitty-Pat and locals call this area "Pitty Pat Hollow".[citation needed] Whether the "Pitty-Pat" is a ghost child or a creature varies, depending on the source.
According to the local legend, in 1775 a female settler and her four children were crossing a bridge on their way home in a horse and buggy. Suddenly they heard a "pit, pat, pit, pat," and a beast approximately the size of a cat ran out on its hind legs in front of the horse. The beast is commonly referred[who?] to as an imp, though the physical description can vary. This action spooked the horse to such an extent that the buggy flipped and the woman was thrown from it. The legend varies, with the woman either dying instantly or living long enough to see the beast carry off her children to devour them. Some sightings were reported of a beast jumping in front of buggies, and a few of the beast charging motor vehicles.[citation needed]
