UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 12, 2004
                                                         -----------------


                             HARLEYSVILLE GROUP INC.
             -------------------------------------------------------
              (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


    Delaware                            0-14697            51-0241172
- ---------------------------           --------            ----------
(State  or  other  jurisdiction      (Commission        (IRS  Employer
  of  incorporation)               File  Number)      Identification  No.)


355  Maple  Avenue,  Harleysville,  Pennsylvania            19438
- --------------------------------------------               ---------
   (Address  of  principal  executive  offices)            (Zip Code)


                                 (215) 256-5000
               ---------------------------------------------------
               Registrant's telephone number, including area code


                                 Not Applicable
     ----------------------------------------------------------------------
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Check  the  appropriate  box  below  if  the  Form  8-K  filing  is  intended to
simultaneously  satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following  provisions:

[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
230.425)

[  ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange
Act  (17  CFR  240.14d-2(b))

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange
Act  (17  CFR  240.13



Item  8.01  Other  Events

On  October  12,  2004, Harleysville Group Inc. issued a press release regarding
its  preliminary  estimate  of  losses  from  all  weather-related catastrophes,
including  four  hurricanes  that  hit the Southeastern United States during the
third  quarter.  A  copy  of  the  press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and
incorporated  by  reference  herein.


                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant  to  the  requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has  duly  caused  this  report  to  be  signed on its behalf by the
undersigned  hereunto  duly  authorized.


                                           HARLEYSVILLE  GROUP  INC.
                                           Registrant




                                           /s/Mark  R.  Cummins
October 12, 2004                           ----------------------------
                                           Mark  R.  Cummins
                                           Executive  Vice  President,
                                           Chief  Investment  Officer  &
                                           Treasurer



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit  No.            Description

99.1                   Press  Release,  dated  October  12,  2004.