(Ohio Casualty Corporation letterhead) Michael A. Winner, CPA Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer December 22, 2005 Mr. Jim B. Rosenberg Senior Assistant Chief Accountant United States Securities & Exchange Commission 100 F Street, NE Washington, D.C. 20549 RE: Ohio Casualty Corporation Form 10-K for Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2004 File No. 0-05544 Dear Mr. Rosenberg: This letter is to acknowledge receipt of your letter to Dan Carmichael dated December 20, 2005. With respect to your request for our response within ten business days, this would be very difficult for us to accomplish due to scheduling conflicts over the holiday season. As a result, we are committed to providing you our written response by Tuesday, January 17, 2006. If you have any questions or concerns with this timing, please contact Deb Crane, SVP & General Counsel, at 513-603-2213, Keith Cheesman, VP and Corporate Controller, at 513-603-2282, or myself at 513-603-2267. Sincerely, /s/Michael A. Winner Michael A. Winner 9450 Seward Road, Fairfield, OH 45014 Telephone: 513-603-2267 Fax: 513-603-3134 mike.winner@ocas.com